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



295 



the said Commander Blaeuw, and since little or nothing 

 worth mentioning has happened here after that time, and 

 also because, if we despatched the said yacht " Limmen," it 

 might easily happen that on crossing over to Cape Comorin 

 the said yacht and the aforesaid Commander Blaeuw on his 

 way hither (seeing that on his part he has not any time to 

 lose) might miss each other, and the said yacht would 

 consequently make a fruitless voyage ; 



To let the said yacht " Limmen " stay here and send it this 

 very evening to the harbour of Negumbo, in order to 

 deliver to the captains of our yachts cruising there our letters, 

 together with six buffaloes by way of resh provisions ; 

 and as soon as it shall have delivered these to return 

 hither without any delay, as it is necessary to make a voyage 

 to Alycan in order to try to get a letter delivered to Eaja 

 Singa through the king's men, who are said to keep about 

 the said town [the said letter being intended to request 

 him to 



MS. page 43. 



come down to the fortresses with his forces, &c] ; and also 

 to inquire whether any quantity of bamboo might be 

 obtainable there for the construction of storming ladders, 

 and further to procure some fresh provisions. 



Actum in the ship " Bergen op den Soom " lying in the 

 roads of Columbo, datum ut supra. Jan Thysen, Dominicus 

 Bouwens, Cornells Lourensz Stanbroeck, Abraham Bouwens, 

 Albert Claesz Hooghland, Secretary. 



January 23, 1642 Anno. 



MS. page 44. 



Whereas we see every day the people of Columbo send out 

 their fishing praws 1 which fearlessly run out far into the sea 

 some way south of the town towards Galle, and throw out 



Pirogues, the outrigger canoes still so common in our harbours. 



