586 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XI. 



their fidelity and zeal to the service of God and honour 

 of the king, and that they had the reputation of the 

 Portuguese at heart, asking the General's permission to go 

 at once and seek out the enemy. They were obsequious 

 and threatening by turns ; then putting on a bold front 

 and lashing themselves into a kind of fury they desired 

 to be confronted with him, adding strength to their 

 duplicity by their gestures as well as by their words, and 

 leaving nothing undone that might in any way assist their 

 plot. Studying every movement and all their outward actions 

 in order to conceal it, they with one accord fell down 

 prostrate on the ground, and, whining and creeping up to the 

 General, clasped him round his knees, entreating him that 

 he would allow them to avenge the insult and audacity of 

 the Prince of Uva, who in the pride of his victory taunted 

 as cowards the subjects of the Crown of Portugal, and 

 challenged them to battle, which to refuse would be infamy, 

 and timidity, cowardice ; that if they did not strike quickly 

 and rigorously at once, it would be the prelude of still 

 greater audacity ; that it was not right that the reputation 

 of Portugal should perish by the hands of such a vile enemy, 

 when the existence of the Portuguese Empire in the East 

 depended more on it than on the small force which guarded 

 so large a dominion ; that the idolater, grown insolent with 

 success, would no doubt besiege us in Columbo, the very 

 attempt at which would double the insult. They begged that 

 His Highness would not delay to take up arms for the 

 support and credit of his king, his nation, and his own 

 reputation ; for there was no other way to insure the safety 

 of the lives of his subjects, their honour, and their properties. 



There are no hearts more easy to deceive than the hearts of 

 the loyal, especially so true a one as that of Constantino de 

 Sa, in whose soul dwelt no duplicity nor the thought of 

 treachery. He graciously listened to the Zingalas, and 

 thanked them for the zeal and courage they showed in this 

 struggle : and although he greatly loved the reputation of his 

 king and the credit of his arms, having, up till then, always 



