466 



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



and at little more than 1 J mile's distance south of Columbo 1 

 they had found another place which to them seemed reason- 

 ably fitted for landing men and some of the smaller pieces, 

 but not for landing heavy guns." 



All which having been seriously and duly considered, it 

 has finally been unanimously resolved that the same deputed 

 members of the Council shall, to-morrow before daybreak, 

 once more 



MS.fol. 123. 



make an inspection of the enemy's coasts, beginning from 

 the spot where they have been to-day, and going northward 

 past the said town, to the end that they may ascertain 

 whether there be any fitting place for landing our guns 

 closer to the enemy's fortresses ; 



all this, however, to be done under cover of the guns of the 

 boat, and the yachts hitherto used for this purpose, as much 

 as shall be found possible, to the end that the deputed coun- 

 cillors aforesaid may run no risk of disaster, for which 

 purpose the whole fleet shall also follow them, and shall try 

 to avail itself of the sea and land wind, to run up north of 

 Columbo so far as shall be at all found possible. 



Thus done and resolved in the ship " Prins Hendrick," 2 

 miles due east of Columbo, date as above. (Signed) Francois 

 Caron, Jan Thy sen, Willem van der Beecq, Marten Vinck, 

 Reyndert Weybrantsz, Steven Pietersz, Pieter Vinckboous. 



Wednesday, January 6, 1644. 



MS. foL 124. 



Whereas for some days past the councillors deputed 

 have used all possible diligence to examine and reconnoitre 

 the coast about the enemy's fortress, to the end that after 

 trustworthy information obtained, we might with greater 



1 This was probably Mount Lavinia : 1 Dutch, mile is equal to about 4 

 English miles. 



