NO. 41. — 1890.] RBBBLION DB CEYLAN. 



583 



of the World ? Already are they possessors of the fat of our land, 

 . masters of our commerce and our ports : all that remains for them to 

 do is to drive us from it. And think you that will not be done 

 when they crown their success by the conquest of Candia ? This is 

 no doubt what saves you to-day. Look at the tyrants, who will not 

 allow any other nation except themselves in the Island under pretext 

 of religion. Is it right you should help them with your arms, and 

 shed the blood of your native princes, so that all may see your shame ? 

 Tell me, what you will gain by living amongst these Portuguese ? 

 Who keeps up their wars of conquest, but your own arms ? Are they 

 not these, to your sjiame, which have made them glorious by such great 

 victories? Is this General's Government so prosperous? Who, 

 perchance, exempts you from tribute ? Who from gratuities ? Your 

 rubies, your ivory, your cinnamon, in short the wealth of your own 

 Island, is it not more yours than the Portuguese ? Who, if not 

 they, collect the treasures of your arts, the work and labour of 

 your artists ? There is not a year that passes, but all there is in 

 Ceylan is sent to Goa, and from Goa to Portugal! Many more 

 reasons I might urge to persuade you to stand to your honour, your 

 homes, and your religion ; but I see repentance marked in your faces 

 for your past negligence. Make use of the present moment, friends, 

 brothers, countrymen, which you know well if lost will not return. 

 The few Wretched Portuguese whom we see in tatters and disarmed, 

 with a General badly paid ; the many friends we have got to help 

 us, a prince so powerful as the King of Candia , only waiting for 

 our call to come to our assistance, and confident of the friendship 

 of his son, our enemy's bitterest foe, the generous and valiant prince 

 of Uva, whose valour gives us most certain hope for the restoration 

 of our ancient and glorious empire. What wait ye for ? What 

 keeps you back ? Let us take up arms as conquerors before we 

 are discovered ; since Heaven, fortune, and opportunity all alike 

 favour us. 



Don Cosmo continued giving more reasons with great 

 impetuosity, almost beside himself with rage, when the 

 silence, which until then kept these barbarians' tongues tied, 

 was broken by shouts and cries demanding with one voice 

 that the rebellion be declared, and calling down vengeance 

 on their enemies with vehemence and unanimity. And that 

 everything might declare their determination and wishes, 

 they held a council amongst themselves as to how it should 

 be brought about. 



In the first place they decided to send a message to the 

 Prince of Uva, giving him an account of what had taken 



