372 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIL 



Secondly, the centre detachment commanded by Skipper 

 Minne Willemsz Caertekoe, to surprise the point of St. Juan, 1 

 and the curtain between Ascension and St. Juan ; this detach- 

 ment to consist of [ ] companies of Dutchmen and 

 [ ] ditto " blacks." 



Thirdly, the rear guard, to give aid and follow up the 

 storming wherever occasion shall require, said rear to be 

 commanded by the " Supermerchant " Symon de Wit, and 

 to consist of [ ] companies of Dutchmen and [ ] ditto 

 " blacks." 



Fourthly, a reserve detachment, to remain in quarters in 

 charge of the artillery in case of repulse or unexpected 

 disaster ; said reserve to be commanded by the " Fiscal " 

 Gerard Herbers, heretofore commander of the fortress of 

 Triquenamale, and to consist of two companies of " blacks " 

 and all the musketeers and carpenters. 



MS.fol. B. 



It having further been considered whether we shall, 

 pursuant to the orders of the Honourable Phs. Lucas, 2 send to 

 Batavia the ship " Boeyen," with ulterior advices of what has 

 happened between us and the Ceylonese Magistrate, 

 it has been resolved, 



forasmuch as the said magistrate has not delivered into our 

 hands any missive such as the Honourable Phs. Lucas had 

 supposed, 



to keep here the said ship " Boeyen " until we shall, with the 

 aid of God, have terminated our attempt on Galle, after 

 which she shall convey to Batavia, together with the 

 preceding advices, also a report of our doings against Galle. 



1 Probably the present " Moon Bastion," the Middel Pibnt according to 

 Valentyn. 



2 Philippus Lucasz was the Director-General of the expedition against the 

 Portuguese in the Indian seas. Falling ill, however, early in the course of 

 events, and dying shortly after at Batavia (5th March, 1640), the chief 

 command of the army, both on land and sea, fell to Willem Jacobsz Coster. 



