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



draw attention to the uncertainty of winds and currents,, 

 owing to which a good deal of time, nay the best part of the 

 monsoon, would be wanted for getting here the fleet from 

 Goa ; also to the fact that the force in the said fleet consists 

 principally of sailors, 



MS.fol. 106. 



so that the number of military persons in it cannot be 

 estimated at more than 90, which reinforcement would be 

 of little use ; 



regard being had to the fact that in this way we should lose 

 a great deal of time ; 



that it is highly necessary that the enemy's return fleet bound 

 for Portugal should be prevented from leaving Goa; that 

 the Portuguese have already got wind of our design through 

 the Danes via Coromandel, and of the appearance of the 

 present fleet on the Coast of Ceylon ; 



also that the enemy's forces from Columbo, being at present 

 divided into two several troops, might perhaps be cut off 

 from the said town and attacked with advantage ; 

 or that we might occupy Columbo by surprise and keep 

 the Portuguese out of it ; 



It has been unanimously pronounced advisable 

 that the fleet above-mentioned shall remain before Goa to 

 prevent the sailing of the enemy's return fleet ; that we shall 

 only summon hither by the first opportunity the 90 soldiers 

 above-mentioned, together with as many sailors as they can 

 dispense with ; 



that we shall immediately summon hither from Galle in the 

 ships 80 soldiers and about 200 lascorins, because we esti- 

 mate the reinforcement wanted here at 300 Dutchmen, and 

 because we want the lascorins to inform us about the situation 

 of the interior as respects roads and morasses ; to the intent 

 that the enemy by these proceedings of ours may be tha 

 more misled and deceived. 



