No. 60.— 1908.] couTo: history of ceylon. 311 



whereby many soldiers gaining fresh courage were now not 

 content to fight under shelter, but astride on the walls they 

 cast upon the enemy many deadly missiles both of iron and 

 fire, with which they burnt a great part of the stonemasons 

 who were undermining the wall, and made them get away 

 in spite of themselves. But as the multitude of the enemy 

 was so great, and for all the large number that they killed 

 the loss was imperceptible amongst them, nor did their 

 captains have much concern over it, but hastened to that 

 part, and doubled the number both of those fighting and of 

 those that had to destroy the walls, the which they recom- 

 menced to do, and the others to climb up in order to get 

 over the wall, upon which the havoc and cries began anew : 

 and as the captain had now left, having gone off to view the 

 other parts, all would have been lost, although the ar aches 

 and the father Pero Dias and other soldiers and knights 

 did temerarious deeds, if some had not come to help, who 

 hastened at the report that flew about of the strait in which 

 that part was, and began to participate in its defence with 

 great valour and energy, all of them employing their weapons 

 and hands to such purpose to the enemy's hurt, who were 

 climbing up the ladders, that no one missed a stroke or threw 

 a pot of powder in vain. And the captain Joao Correa once 

 more hastened to that part, because they had given him the 

 alarm, and presenting himself in front of all, and naming 

 himself by his name, in order to encourage our men as well 

 as to dishearten the enemy, he began to fight very resolutely, 

 because the affair was very hazardous, and the enemy had 

 thrown on the top of the wall much fire in order to drive our 

 men away. But as in these dangers what least concerns the 

 Portuguese lovers of honour is the kind of death that may 

 be most cruel, there forced their way to the front Fernao 

 Dalvares, Pero Gonsalves Cananor, and other valorous 

 soldiers, and in the midst of those flames with their arms in 

 their hands did everything that can be imagined to prevent 

 the entrance of the enemy, upon which they had put forth 

 all their strength. The captain here performed his office very 

 well, for he fought continuously, and took part in the greatest 

 dangers, and at the same time provided for things that seemed 

 to him necessary. 



At the bastion of Sao Gonsalo a similar assault was ex- 

 perienced, because all around it was encircled by ladders 

 full of enemies, and the embrasures of which those in that 

 quarter made use were attacked with much determination ; 

 and upon those that were below for its defence fell the brunt 

 of the attacks, because the arrows and the fire that entered 

 by them was enough to set fire to the whole city, and so they 



