138 



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



To the above resume of the work I should wish to add a 

 few observations suggested by some passages in the book, 

 letting the poet speak for himself where desirable. 



That our author was a native Christian is abundantly clear 

 from the opening verses : — 



a>&®Q&oia5 §g e -est 

 coca85o3 «a©(3 g csJ 



I adore Jesus Christ, the chief of all mankind, who is full of loving- 

 kindness. 



8Qsssi&5 aancosS -co 



o<2D(§ ggSgetf S)jc9©co co 



I adore the deity born of the womb of the Virgin Mary, like unto 

 a flame emitted by a lamp of solar rays. 



We read that De Sa was highly connected, being a 

 descendant of the family of the Master of the Robes to the 

 Portuguese kings, f and that he was a distinguished General, 

 who had served in other parts of the world with conspicuous 

 ability. The vessel which brought De Sa appears to have 

 been a war-ship which had taken part in previous similar 

 expeditions, and the course of which on the high seas was 

 guided by the stars. 



The navigation, it is said, was done according to the 

 mdlimi sdstraya (laws of navigation ?). The vessel itself is 



quaintly described : — 



®coss digcocgc} © d 



©>.8533©(§3i)g<3 ©O5i0 ©GB16)0 Scoo -erf 



* cDS) cod §g csf 



9;»82>oi ss)©(3 g est. — Kusa Jdtafya 



f &<&q$)6<dnz)£ co 



