270 JOURNAL, R,A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVII. 



means this had better be done, in order that the said 

 Commander Quast may be fully informed thereof ; 



Therefore the Lord President has set forth these matters 

 to his assembled Council and therewith [ 



] 



to write to Commander Quast all these things in detail. 



All which having been fully weighed by the said Council, 

 they have by a majority of votes resolved, approved, and 

 determined to send the following communication and advice 

 to the afore-mentioned Commander Quast, who, being 

 informed of the same, can decide upon it with his Council, 

 as they shall think fit and advisable to be done for the 

 greatest advantage of the East India Company ; to wit — 



First, respecting the enemy's situation and forces in this 

 Island of Ceylon, as we have been told by two Portuguese 

 deserters and some " blacks," their forces consist of from 

 900 to 1,000 whites, besides the married men at Columbo, 

 who probably number 500 whites ; 



MS. page 11. 



but the soldiers are divided into three encampments, one 

 of these being at Saff regam ; one near this place, made up of 

 14 distancis, 1 some of them of 20, some of 22, and others of 

 24 men ; and the third lying at Manicareware ; 2 besides a 

 great number of Cingalese and " blacks," whom by violence 

 as well as persuasion they have brought under their rule, as 

 they still do every day ; 



and we do not believe that Dom Philip Mas., 8 General 

 at Columbo, will send any of them to Goa, as he does not 

 know about our fleet, and, if he suspects anything, he will 

 probably be afraid that he is to be attacked ; 



As respects the state of affairs at Columbo, since the 

 [ ] of the faithless and dishonourable Count de 



Vertamane, it has been much fortified, with a moat round 



1 Companies ? 



2 Piobably Menikkadawara in the Keg'alla District. 



3 MascarenJias. 



