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



could be taken from this garrison and be distributed over 

 the said vessels for the reinforcement of the fleet under the 

 said Commander Quast and in order to harass the enemy, and 

 hope that they could be incorporated with the crews of the 

 said vessels, 



how many men it would be advisable to part with [ 



] 



All which having been duly weighed, and it having been 

 considered that although this garrison certainly numbers 

 400 men, more than half of them are laid up with various 

 complaints, such as berri-berri, dropsy, and principally 

 [ ] legs, 



It has been unanimously approved of and resolved 

 provisionally to transfer from this garrison to the said 

 vessels 80 able-bodied and experienced soldiers, forming 

 two companies, one of them commanded by Lambert Cam- 

 holt and the other by Jan Cornelisz van der Forht, both 

 "absolute" Ensigns, together with Willem Pietersz, of Utrecht 

 [the said Ensigns being appointed Lieutenants and the said 

 Willem Pietersz being appointed Ensign, both provisionally 

 and for this expedition only], and furthermore the [ ] 

 provisional Ensign Jan Roberts, who arrived here with 16 

 soldiers from Battecaloa a few days ago. 



MS. page 32. 



Considering that when the vessels arriving before Columbo 

 or Negumbo should find that, even before the appearance of 

 the Commander Quast, they might get some advantage there, 

 which would require speed in the execution, these aforesaid 

 soldiers might be of the greatest use ; whereas the scarcity of 

 men on board the said vessels might cause serious incon- 

 venience, unless it were obviated in the manner above stated ; 

 and it would require too much time to send for them to 

 Galle afterwards. 



Being of opinion at the same time that after this deduction 

 this garrison will remain strong enough to resist the enemy 



