NO. 53.— 1902.] GALLB DUTCH RECORDS. 467 



security and on a surer foundation determine where and in 

 what manner we should land our soldiers, and especially 

 heavy guns in order to attack the town of Columbo, and with 

 the divine help, get the same into our power ; 

 concerning which point a further and closer investigation 

 has brought to light the things hereunder following, to wit, 

 that between the river Paneture and Columbo there is no 

 fitting place for landing our guns, but only one for putting 

 our men ashore ; excepting only one spot at a little more 

 than a gun-shot's distance from the town, where it would 

 seem that in very favourable and calm weather the artillery 

 might be set ashore on rafts, at the imminent risk, however, 

 of losing the same, if the least wind should suddenly arise, 

 which we daily find to be the case, seeing that even in calm 

 weather there are pretty high seas, but as soon as any breeze 

 arises, the waves become so high that the anchors could 

 hardly keep the rafts; which favourable opportunity for 

 landing the guns might probably be found if only we waited 

 long enough ; but on an eventual retreat from the town 

 for the purpose of re-embarking the same, great disasters 

 might ensue ; we being by no means certain of success, regard 

 being had to the strength and constitution of the enemy, 

 who within his ramparts and walls 



MS.fol. 125. 



is lying at vantage ; numbering as before-mentioned 1,400 

 white men and 7,000 " blacks," among whom there are 400 

 stout well-exercised caffres and 1,500 lascorins or Cingalese 

 soldiers ; against whom we can now put into the field little 

 more than 1,000 soldiers and 200 sailors armed with pikes, 

 the rest of our soldiers being ill or carried off by death, 

 which is daily demanding fresh victims ; 

 besides, the enemy may expect great advantage, and we on 

 the contrary great disadvantage, before we come to the 

 place where we intend to establish our encampment, since 

 we shall have first to pass along a number of narrow roads, 

 where the enemy lying in ambush can do us great harm ; 

 Ip 2 



