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



istancies 1 for this place, in order to relieve the fortress of 

 Negumbo aforesaid, and the said Dom Philipo on hearing 

 the news of the enemy's defeat had suddenly turned back, 

 as also that the Portuguese military forces inside Columbo 

 is estimated at 12 istancies or 360 men at the highest, 

 among whom there are still several disabled by illness, 

 to whom must be added about 200 men whom we estimate 

 to have escaped our arms in the 



MS. fol. 140. 



rage of the battle ; so that we compute that the enemy now 

 numbers 560 men at the outside, to whom must be added a 

 few more than 300 married civilians, together with the 400 

 caffres and 1,500 Cingalese soldiers before mentioned ; 

 setting off against which our forces at present consisting of 

 nearly 900 able-bodied soldiers and 200 sailors over and 

 above the sick and wounded ; 



regard being also had to the fact that our sudden victory 

 must have sensibly weakened and amazed the enemy. 



Therefore, the Lord General has convened the Council to 

 discuss the question what had best be done for the benefit 

 of the Honourable General Company, to wit : 



Whether we shall rest content with the conquest of the 

 fortress of Negumbo aforesaid, 



or whether we shall follow up our success and march with 

 our army against Columbo, 



which points having been seriously debated, it has been 

 unanimously resolved and approved 



that to-night 60 matchlock men and 30 musketeers divided 

 into three troops shall, under command of Lieutenant 

 Lambert Camholt, march to the river Moutwael, 2 about -J mile 

 on this side Columbo, in order to reconnoitre and inspect the 

 said river, and ascertain in what manner we could best cross 

 the same with our army, put our boats into it, and land our 

 guns, 



1 See note on page 453. 



2 Mutwal. 



