NO. 53.— 1902.] GALLE DUTCH RECORDS. 499 



of Columbo, at 2 miles' distance from the said town, or on 

 the river Paneture, 4 miles lower down, in order to make 

 another attempt on the town from that side with better hope 

 of success, 



regard being had to the fact that our present army numbers 

 hardly 1,000 men, including 100 pikemen and sailors, com- 

 pared with the enemy's power inside the aforesaid town of 

 Columbo, being to the best of our knowledge of the same 

 strength as regards white soldiers, besides 5 to 600 armed 

 civilians, 400 caffres, and 2,000 Cingalese, half-bloods, and 

 other soldiers — the said town of Columbo having for some 

 years past been considerably fortified and surrounded with 

 double ramparts. 



Item, considering that this Coast of Ceylon is continually 

 rendered unsafe by heavy breakers, through which not only 

 small vessels but also guns run great risk of being lost, as 

 well appeared on the 25th and 26th of this month, when 

 the fleet lay at anchor near the aforesaid river Moutewael, 

 by the loss of two boats engaged in taking in guns, on which 

 occasion on account of the heavy breakers, the guns got into 

 great danger, and the embarking of the same 



MS.fol. 164. 



suffered considerable delay, which inconvenience, seeing the 

 progress of the monsoon, may be expected to become worse 

 instead of better ; 



owing to all which circumstances our men are greatly 

 weakening and dwindling away, as is already clearly seen in 

 the ships' crews who are employed without intermission, 

 and would get much worse if matters were suffered to go on 

 like this ; 



considering also that for undertaking anything of importance 

 the time is pretty short, and in the most favourable case we 

 have only a month or six weeks left ; 



Seeing that the taking of the town of Columbo would 

 require more time, and at least 2,500 soldiers and 500 



2 F 2 



