302 ' 



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



MS. page 53. 



it would be advisable to attempt a landing on the islet 

 right before the fortress, separated from the same by a 

 running river, because, as soon as we shall have obtained a 

 footing there with all our forces, the enemy wishing to 

 repulse us, cannot cross to us unless it be in vessels ; which 

 we may keep off and obtain a firm footing there, though to 

 be sure not without risk of loss of men, as the guns of 

 the fortress will be enabled to play on the said islet. 



Touching the second point, whether a means could not be 

 found to deceive and divert the enemy, it has been resolved 

 that this very evening two yachts shall put off from the fleet 

 with destination for the roads of Negumbo, to cruise there 

 as before, while we with the other vessels shall put out to 

 sea and go out of the sight of land ; we surmise that the 

 enemy seeing no more than the said yachts will think that 

 these have come there to blockade the Bar, and will conclude 

 that we do not intend to attack Negumbo, but mean to make 

 an attempt on Columbo, the more so as the Ceylonese 1 

 ambassadors [ ] our intention to put to sea and have 



been made to believe that we intend to land at Paneture, 

 about 3 miles south of Columbo [ 



\desunt nonnulla] 



MS. page 54. 



[ ] And therefore should not be wanting ; in accord- 



ance with which, the various abilities of the members present 

 having been taken into consideration, the functions here- 

 under following have been conferred on them severally, to 

 wit : 



The provisional Captain Jan van der Laen in the course 

 of the projected attempt to be Sergeant-Major 2 of the Mili- 

 tary, which title he shall bear for the time to confer greater 

 consideration on him. 



1 Sinhalese. 



2 A Sergeant-Major in the Dutch, army at this time was a field officer of 

 high rank, corresponding perhaps to that of a General now-a-days. 



