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



lies forty-five leagues distant from Columbo over difficult 

 and dangerous roads. It is perched on a lofty eminence, most 

 difficult of access. 



The General did not halt until he arrived (at Retule) to 

 besiege it ; for his spies had advised him that the Prince of 

 Uva was awaiting him with great bravery. But the prince 

 changing his plans, and pretending fear and small numbers, 

 so as to draw Constantino de Sa more into the mountains, 

 abandoned his capital and fled to the most inaccessible part of 

 the highlands. Our troops set it on fire ; and soon afterwards 

 the General halted in front of it to rest and refresh his men,, 

 who were footsore and weary after so toilsome a journey. 



In the meanwhile the traitors had time to communicate 

 with the King of Candia, and to settle what they had to do. 

 Barbarism is unworthy of the name of kings. This the 

 Romans so abominated in the murder of Yiriatus (that 

 formidable enemy of the Republic), which was brought about 

 by treachery rather than by the valour of Servilius Scipio. 

 But the glory and strength of barbarians rest in trusting 

 more to the prosperity of fortune than to their bravery ; for 

 they hold treachery in great estimation, by no means looking 

 upon it as infamous. So did these men make use of it, 

 because of the respect and fear in which they lived of 

 the General. They thought it best to liberate themselves by 

 this means from the fear and danger in which they lived of 

 being discovered ; and although it was dishonourable it was 

 the safest thing they could do, because they placed the 

 Empire of Ceylan in jeopardy, when they were most cast 

 down and hemmed in. 



The traitors after these secret interviews, in which they 

 arranged the plot and the manner it was to be carried out, 

 returned to the camp and intermingled with our men,, 

 amongst whom a rumour already got about as to their designs. 



And at this time there came to tell of them to the General 

 a Zingala Arache, whose name was Don Jeronimo Idruma- 

 raturi, a most faithful friend of the Portuguese, and it was 

 matter of no small wonder to have one good man among so 



