NO. 53. — 1902.] GALLE DUTCH RECORDS. 299' 



the other possessions of the East India Company in the 

 Island of Ceylon — the Council having previously given full* 

 powers to the said President to lay open the present state of 

 affairs in Ceylon — 



has by the ordinary signals convened a plenary Council 5 u 

 the ship "S'Hartogenbosch," and submitted to the said Council 

 the question how the present combined forces could best be 

 employed for the benefit of the General Company ; whether 

 by attacking Columbo or Negumbo with the same ; the Lord' 

 President giving at the same time sundry particulars touching 

 the situation of the said fortresses, especially the strength of 

 Columbo and the little chance there Avould be of success 



MS. page 49. 



if we should undertake anything against it, seeing that at 

 this moment its strength of soldiers is between 1,100 and 

 1,200 men, besides about 400 casados or married men 

 domiciled in Columbo, together with 1,000 to 1,500 Cingalese 

 under the Prince of Uva, all of them with the said soldiers 

 occupying the coast between Columbo and Negumbo, to 

 prevent us from making a descent [ 



] 



All which considerations having been attentively weighed 

 by the captains and friends assembled, and it having been 

 considered, on the other hand, that if we do not wish to leave 

 the ships unprovided, we can at most raise a force of 600 to 

 650 men ; also that in case of defeat (which God avert) the 

 fortress of Galle would also be in great danger, since 100 

 soldiers have lately been drawn off from the garrison, in order 

 to manage everything in the securest way possible ; it has 

 been resolved to make an expedition to Alycan with all the 

 ships to discuss our affairs with the Dessave or Royal Gover- 

 nor, who is waiting there with 1,000 men, thus deceiving 

 the garrison of Columbo and Negumbo, so that they can get 

 no certainty touching our real plans ; that, furthermore, after 

 having lain two or three clays before Alycan, and having 

 taken on board another company of soldiers from Galle 



