278 



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



believe, for certain Cingalese have twice come here with 

 their " praws "* both from Vacquelle and Mature, who were 

 greatly amazed when we told them that this was not true, 

 and that the Portuguese said so only in order to [ 



] 



The Council assembled, having considered that the yachts 

 " Lief de " and " Lecq " (as we have not had the least intimation 

 of the enemy's intention to come this way) are lying inactive 

 in the bay, and in all appearance could be more advanta- 

 geously employed in another part of this coast, have 

 approved and resolved to send the said yachts, under 

 command of Skipper Frans Jansz Maetsuycker and his 

 Council, to the Roads of Columbo and Negumbo as soon as 

 possible, after having been provided with all necessaries, in 

 order to cruise to and fro there for some time near the coast 

 (now and then in sight of Galle, 



MS. page 20. 



that if we should want them here, we may be enabled to let 

 them know this through the sign of a heavy gun shot), to 

 lie in wait there for the enemy's ships, which (this being 

 the right time for it) we presume they are expecting from 

 other quarters with supplies, provisions, and the like, as also 

 for those which from there they may send out to other 

 places ; and to use their best exertions to capture the same \ 



And in order that the said yachts, when encountering the 

 said enemy's vessels, or any frigates that might be sent out 

 against them from Columbo (as may easily take place), shall 

 be the better enabled to resist them and capture the same ; 

 they shall get on board, besides the men now on board of 

 them, [ ] soldiers and good musketeers [ ], to wit, 

 23 on board " De Liefde " [ ] " Lecq," under command of 

 the Ensign Lambert Camholt. 



And they shall also get with them the [ ] sloop 



named " Middelburch " with [ ] musketeers, the said 



1 Pirogues, or outrigger canoes. 



