492 



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



Therefore the question having been considered what had 

 under the present circumstances best be done and under- 

 taken in order to the execution of our design, 



It has been unanimously pronounced advisable and 

 accordingly resolved that this following night, close on 

 the bank of the said river, a certain number of gabions 

 filled with earth shall be set up in the form of a battery, in 

 which shall be placed two metal half-battering pieces, in 

 order to force the Portuguese by continual firing to evacuate 

 the opposite bank, and in order to enable us to carry our 

 men in small boats to the other side under cover of said fire. 



The Uppermerchant Pieter Vinckboous, Captain Claes 

 Syms, together with the Skippers Captains Dirck Gerritsz 

 andHarmen Arentsz, remain charged with the execution and 

 completion of the said project this following night, assisted 

 by a party of sailors and soldiers and under the protection of 

 a company of matchlock men ; 



while the Lord President Jan Thysen, together with the 

 Uppermerchant Marten Vinck and the Captains Johannes 

 Burgers and Lambert Camholt undertake to provide huts 

 and lodgings for the soldiers, and for the ammunition and 

 provisions to be carried by the coolies or black baggage- 

 porters, 



MS.fol. 154. 



in order to protect the same from the rain and the sun. 



Thus done and resolved on the north side of the river 

 Moutewael, date as above. (Signed) FranQois Caron, Jan 

 Thysen, Willem van der Beecq, Marten Vinck, Reyndert 

 Weybrantsz, Steven Pietersz, Pieter Vinckboous, Johannes 

 Burgers. 



Sunday, January 24, in the forenoon, 1644 A.D. 

 MS.fol. 155. 



Although, since Thursday last when we arrived here 

 with the army, we have both from the battery near the 



