316 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XX. 



willingness would they defend their positions and act on the 

 offensive against them ; because now the spirit of every one 

 of them was contented only with greater dangers. 



Where they attacked most and contended with most vigour 

 was at the bastion of Sao Gonsalo, the first that attempted 

 to enter it being those of the king's guard, who came armed 

 with breastplates, coats of mail, headpieces and morrions, 

 and with many two-handed swords, with which they cleft 

 many spears of those on the bastion, who first with these 

 threw down many of their men, thrust through and through. 

 The stonemasons returned to their work, and went under- 

 mining the wall, and the elephants with their trunks groped 

 on the top of the positions, striving to get at the artillery in 

 order to pull it down : but as it was loaded with its cartridges, 

 being discharged amongst them it caused great destruction, 

 and the elephants with the pain of the wounds and the rever- 

 beration of the artillery wheeled back, and trampled upon 

 a great number of their men, upon whom there showered from 

 all parts so many things thrown by our people to hurt them, 

 that the whole plain below was strewn with mutilated corpses, 

 which formed a great impediment to the living. Some of the 

 most noted Chingalas, who wished to gain great honours in 

 the presence of Raju, tried hard to plant some banners that 

 they bore on the summit of the bastion of Sao Gonsalo, which 

 our men prevented so much to their cost that in a confused 

 heap with these they went whirling down below cut to pieces ; 

 but as here was the greatest strength of Raju's force, and 

 most picked and fiercest, our men found themselves in very 

 great straits. 



At that time came the captain, and seeing that bastion in 

 so great danger remained there, and sent to summon Thome 

 de Sousa de Arronches, who, although until now we have not 

 spoken of him, it is not that he was idle, but rather equally 

 with the captain he went about continually providing and 

 reinforcing the most necessitous parts, there having been 

 committed to him all that part from his bastion 1 as far 

 as that of Madre de Deus, because the captain wished to 

 discharge upon him part of the responsibilities that he took 

 upon himself ; and as long as the combat lasted, and in fact 

 the whole siege, he fulfilled the office not only of captain but 

 also of valiant soldier, and of very expert bombardier, himself 

 aiming the bombards and discharging them, and arranging 

 many important things in the defence of that fortress. And 

 having been given the message of the captain he incharged 



1 S. Joao. 



