NO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 581 



opinions all the Zingalas of Columbo, so that they might 

 carry out their dark designs in greater safety. But as it was 

 dangerous for them to trust too much to these, they did not 

 join them openly ; and in order to avoid suspicion, whenever 

 they met in public they spoke to each other as usual, never 

 letting out a word or making any sign that might betray that 

 they were planning anything extraordinary. They more 

 than ever flattered and fawned on the Portuguese, assisting 

 and serving the General with all their usual obsequious 

 demonstrations of fidelity and affection, never once showing 

 any sign or look of enmity. Such dissimulation and hypo- 

 crisy was enough to lull the minds of the most suspicious, 

 how much more so the Governor who never once had the 

 least suspicion or hint about it in time to circumvent 

 them. 



The first man they got over to them was a Motiar (which 

 means a Secretary) of the General. On this man they laid 

 great importance, for through his hands passed all the cor- 

 respondence of the affairs of the Island, and he gave them 

 all the necessary information for the execution of their 

 infamous plot. 



Another Zingala also joined them, a Modeliar of distinc- 

 tion, one of the richest and of the highest caste in Columbo, 

 and on whom the General had placed such confidence that 

 he made him his shield-bearer (Rodelero), which was a post 

 considered by the Zingalas one of the highest and most 

 confidential that could be given. No other cause could be 

 attributed for their treason but their natural malice and 

 depravity ; for their position and the esteem in which they 

 were held by us, the villages and riches they possessed, 

 appeared great stakes for them to risk and leave to the 

 arbitration of fate, which is always more powerful than 

 anything else on such occasions as this. 



Delighted with these two additions, the four chiefs also 

 got over to their side a Negro, who was a Master Armourer, 

 whom they knew to be both industrious as well as brave and 

 bold, and the very man for their work : he was, moreover, of 



