102 



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



[Vol. XX. 



that island of Ceilao , among whose heirs the rule thereof con- 

 tinued directly, and continues until today 1 ; because the 

 king Dom Joao, who lives amongst us, and is the true heir 

 of the whole island, proceeds from this caste ; and in this 

 island of Ceilao alone was it preserved by direct line from 

 heir to heir, which was not the case in the other kingdoms 

 where it began, because all in the process of time came to fall 

 into the hands of tyrants, and it is totally extinguished and 

 destroyed ; and in this king Dom J oao alone is it preserved 

 today, and in him it will end, as he has no sons or grandsons, — 

 as in truth it has ended 2 . And thus all these kings of Ceilao 

 boasted of having sprung from the East. And thus they all 

 acknowledge in them a certain superiority, and send to ask 

 their daughters in order to marry them. 



Of this caste came directly this prince whom the king of 

 Cota married to his daughter, although he was disinherited 

 and poor. The nuptials having been celebrated, that king 

 was able, having a son-in-law, to live more at his ease. And 

 being advised of the determination of Madune, they fortified 

 the city of Cota very well, collecting inside it provisions and 

 arms. In this there came Nuno Freire , alcaide mor of Columbo , 

 with some Portuguese that he had, to offer him their help, 

 animating the king and encouraging him : assuring him that 

 the whole state of India would be risked to succour and aid 

 him , wherefore he need have fear of nothing ; continuing to 

 serve him in the fortification of the city with much diligence, 

 for which the king was much obliged to them. And in this state 

 these matters must remain until we return to them. 



Dec. V., Bk. v., Chap. vi. 



Of the things that happened at this time in Ceilao : a,nd of how 

 Madune began again to make war upon his brother the king 

 of Cota : and of the armada that the viceroy Dom Garcia de 

 Noronha sent him in succour, 



It is necessary, in order that we may interweave our history 

 well, for us to touch a little upon Ceilao in passing. Madune 

 went on planning in his mind new methods for destroying his 



1 Circa 1597. 



2 The above refers to Dom Joao Perea Pandar (Dharmapala), who, 

 when Couto wrote, had been living in Columbo under Portuguese pro- 

 tection (and extortion) for over thirty years. The last six words Couto 

 must have added after learning of Dom Joao's death on 27-28 May 

 1597 (see infra, p. 413). 



