NO. 53.— 1902.] G-ALLE DUTCH RECORDS. 



month of the river, and from our camp, with the two metal 

 pieces, by continuous firing, used every possible exertion to 

 drive away the Portuguese enemy from the opposite side of 

 this river, in the hope in that case to be able to cross the 

 same safely and without hindrance ; 



Yet, we find more and more that the enemy not only 

 answers our fire with constant cannonading, but also daily 

 fortifies himself by entrenchments and works along the 

 riverside, and keeps all paths and passes thereabouts 

 continually occupied by vigilant watches ; 



Wherefore it has been deemed advisable and accordingly 

 resolved that the Uppermerchant Pieter Yinckboous, the 

 Captains Nicolas Syms and Jan van der Laen, together with 

 the Lieutenant Michiel Willemsz, two sergeants, and 15 

 matchlock men, shall march about one mile and a half up 

 the river on this side, in order to ascertain whether there 

 may be any fitting place for crossing the river there, and 

 approach Columbo from behind, which having been done, 

 we shall take such further resolutions as the occasion shall 

 seem to require. 



Thus done and resolved on the north bank of the river 

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

 Thysen, Willem van der Beecq, Marten Yinck, Reyndert 

 Weybrantsz, Steven Pietersz, Pieter Yinckboous, Johannes 

 Burgers. 



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

 MS.fol. 156. 



The Uppermerchant Pieter Yinckboous with other 

 officers and the 15 matchlock men, sent out in the forenoon 

 to reconnoitre the other side of this river, having returned, 

 report as follows : 



First, that the road along which they had come was 

 generally a deep morass, skirted with brushwood and very 

 narrow ; the morass being at times upwards of three feet 

 deep and the path, as a rule, not allowing more than one man 



