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



was " a knight called Fernao Cotrim," and he mentions no 

 one else ; while Barros (see B 9) asserts that it was " Payo de 

 Sousa* who went in the capacity of ambassador, and for his 

 clerk Gaspar Diaz, son of Martin Alho, a resident of Lisbon, 

 andDiogoVelho,a servant of Dom Martinho de Castellobranco, 

 the king's comptroller of revenue, who afterwards became 

 conde de Villanova, and one Fernam Cotrim, and other persons 

 of his service ;" and Correa, to increase the confusion, states 

 (see B 10) that the Portuguese convoy was "Diogo d' Almeida, f 

 a nobleman," and that " a certain Fernao Cotrim " was sent 

 to the king later on a different errand. At any rate we may con- 

 sider it certain that Fernao Cotrim J did go in some capacity. 

 The envoys, according to Barros (B 9), "were conducted 

 through such dense thickets that they could scarcely see the 

 sun, taking so many turns that it seemed to them more like 

 a labyrinth than a direct road to any place." It is a very 

 interesting fact that this statement is confirmed by the Sin- 

 halese proverb , ' ' Parangiyd Kotteta vage , " " Like the Portuguese 

 going to Kotte," applied to a long and circuitous path, and 

 referring to the means adopted by the Sinhalese to conceal 

 from the Portuguese the proximity of the capital to the port 

 of Columbo (see B 13). 



At length the destination was reached, § and after the usual 

 delay the ambassador was ushered into the royal presence. 



* Regarding this man see supra, p. 302, note J. 



f Correa alone mentions this man, who, from his name, would 

 appear to have been a connection of the viceroy's. But he may be a 

 creation of Correa's. 



X According to Barros (I. vtii. vii.), when, as related above, Pero 

 Ferreira Fogaca was left at Quiloa as captain, Fernao Cotrim was also 

 left there as factor. If, therefore, he accompanied Dom Lourenco's 

 expedition to Ceylon, he must have come to India by one of the ships 

 under Pero Barreto de Magalhaes, or later with Cide Barbudo. In 

 either case his presence in the expedition proves that it could not have, 

 taken place before August or September 1506. 



§ The Portuguese envoys do not seem to have been taken into the 

 royal city itself, but to have been received by the king at some place in 

 the vicinity. Barros (B 9) says that it was " a kind of country-seat " of 

 the king's, whither " he had come to take his pleasure." 



