No. 60. — 1908.] coixto : history of ceylon. 287 



put to death for that neglect, and desiring to save himself, 

 took his wife and children, and straightway fled to our fortress 

 in such haste, his wife being pregnant and taken with the 

 pains of labour, that he arrived at it simultaneously with 

 the eight panicaes, whom Joao Correa received with much 

 honour, and ordered that they be supplied with provisions 

 every month 1 . These tidings having reached Raju, he was 

 like to die of vexation, and used every means with all those 

 of the fortress to get them into his hands ; but he was left * 

 with his grievance, and with his intention declared, and the 

 truce broken. Joao Correa at once 2 informed the viceroy of 

 everything, and assured him that the siege would not be 

 long delayed, begging him to succour him. 



Dec. X., Bk. viti., Chap. xvii. 

 ******* 



there could not be a more miserable state than this 3 , 



having two such great responsibilities as Malaca and Ceilao, 

 for during these same days 4 there had arrived the letters from 

 Joao Correa de Brito, in which he begged the viceroy to succour 

 him with men, money, and munitions 5 , because there would 

 be without doubt in the winter a severe siege 6 , which gave 

 the viceroy much anxious thought ; but as he was of great 



1 It is possible that this incident is identical with the one related in 

 the Rdjdvaliya (93) as follows : — " Before that, two strong-bodied 

 targe-bearers from the Maha Atapattu department at Sitavaka, who 

 were brothers, having deserted, went to Colombo fighting their way 

 through the Kadudevola post, and presented themselves before king 

 Dharmapala. The elder of these targe-men was honoured with the 

 title of Panikki Mudali." Here, however, only two brothers are 

 spoken of (against Couto's eight men, all relatives), who are said to 

 have fought their way through the kadavata (though I am doubtful of 

 the correctness of the translation). We shall read later on of these 

 eight men being given a position to guard in the defence of Col umbo 

 (see infra, p. 294). 



2 In March 1587 ? 



3 Couto has been describing how, to remedy the lack of war material, 

 &c. , the viceroy got the aldermen of Goa to go round the city borrowing 

 from the inhabitants in order to raise the necessary funds. 



4 April 1587, probably. 



5 The printed edition has " provisions." 



6 See supra, X. vm. xii., at end. 



