38 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XX. 



Dec. III., Bk. il, Chap. ii. 



How Lopo Sodrez, by command of the king Dom Manuel, went 

 to the island of Ceilam to build a fortress : and that which 

 passed before it was built with the king of the country, who 

 became tributary to this kingdom. 



The king Dom Manuel, because he had much information 

 regarding the fertility of this island, and knew that from it 

 came all the cinnamon in those parts, and that the lord of Galle 

 by the manner in which he comported himself towards Dom 

 Lourenco (as we have related above) wished to pay him tribute 

 in order to retain his friendship, and that afterwards through 

 the medium of Afonso Dalboquerque the king of Columbo, 

 who was the real lord of the cinnamon, wished to have that 

 peace and friendship, wrote to the same Afonso Dalboquerque, 

 that he was to go in person to this island, if it semed well to 

 him, to build in this port of Columbo a fortress, in order 

 thereby to make sure of the offers of the king. However, 

 as Afonso Dalboquerque whilst he lived considered other 

 matters more important to the state of India, and that it was 

 proper that they should be made sure of before this island of 

 Ceilam, and also because the king was very prompt in sending 

 all the cinnamon that was needed by us, dissembled with the 

 reminders that the king sent him every year on this subject, 

 giving him these and other reasons why he neglected to do it 1 . 

 When Lopo Soarez was coming to India he likewise carried 

 this reminder ; and nevertheless he first went to the strait of 

 the Red Sea, which by the reasonings of Afonso Dalboquerque 

 was more important ; and seeing how little he had done in this 

 journey, on account of matters having succeeded so badly 2 , 

 and that in that year of 1518 there might come out another 

 captain-major and governor, wished before he went to leave 

 this work completed by his hands. And although he had this 

 year sent many men and ships to divers parts, such as Antonio 

 de Saldanha to the strait, Dom Aleixo to Malaca, and Dom 

 Joam da Silveira to the islands of Maldiva 3 , all of whom he 

 lacked for carrying out this work, and it was an honest excuse 

 for not attempting it, nevertheless he determined upon it ; 

 because, according to the information that he had regarding 

 the navigation of the island by reason of the shoals that it has, 

 galleys and other rowing vessels were sufficient, and some ships 

 of high build to carry implements for the work of the fortress. 



1 Regarding these statements see my " Discovery of Ceylon by the 

 Portuguese." 



2 See Whiteway 184-6. 



3 See III. i. x., III. ii. iii. (pp. 28, 46). 



