NO. 53. — 1902.] GALLE DUTCH RECORDS. 265 



Singa, as we fear that he has contracted an alliance with the 

 Portuguese of which the strangest rumours are current, 

 in order that Their Honours at Batavia may in time 

 be informed that our victuals begin to run sadly short, 

 and, with the exception of rice, will in no case last longer 

 than January next ; also that besides this we may be put 

 in possession of what we had before this been promised by 

 the Lord Governor Arent Gardenys, and now recently by the 

 Goodman 1 Laurens de Maersehale at Battecaloa with a certain 

 vessel, together with three companies of serfs and some 

 Moors and Singalese, 



whether it would not be advisable (it being now the right 

 time) to send to the coast of Coromandel 



MS. page 6. 



via Battecaloa one of the yachts lying in the bay here, 

 u Lief de " or 44 Lecq," as soon as possible, in order to fetch the 

 said necessaries, as also 20 men from Battecaloa and 25 ditto 

 from Paliacatte to reinforce our present garrison, 

 All which having been fully weighed by the Council, and 

 considering that we have not been informed that the enemy 

 had intentions to undertake anything against Galle, that at 

 Columbo there are no vessels that could come this way, and 

 that if any should come from Goa they could not be here 

 before the end of October, against which time, and even 

 before, the said yacht is expected to be back here ; as also in 

 order to prevent extremities 



it has been unanimously resolved and approved, to let the 

 yacht " Lecq," which is deemed fitter to take in cargo than " De 

 Lief de," also because " DeLiefde " is much better equipped for 

 war, should set sail, on the 14th instant, or earlier, if mean- 

 while a further answer respecting our prisoners should come 

 in from Columbo from Battecaloa and from there for 



1 Coopman, merchant. This was a grade in the Company's service. The 

 highest was Oppercoopman % next Coopman, then Ondercoopman, Boekhouder, 

 and Adsistent. 



