326 



JOURNAL, It A S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XX. 



This was not done in such silence that it was not perceived 

 by the women who were watching at the windows that over- 

 looked that part, who gave such loud cries that they were 

 heard by the enemy : upon which they let themselves go, 

 running past the point of Sao Lourenco, firing off many 

 bombard shots, which was the signal that they had to make 

 on arriving at that part, for those of the army with the whole 

 force to attack the posts in order to draw them off from that 

 part. The signal having been heard, all the artillery was 

 discharged from their positions, which were very close to 

 ours, after which they all attacked the fortress with many 

 cries 1 , setting up against it many ladders, by which climbing 

 up with great determination they succeeded in placing their 

 hands on the battlements of the bastion : but as our people 

 were alert to avenge themselves of that affront, most of those 

 that offered it paid for it with their lives, falling burnt and 

 cut to pieces upon others that were attempting the ascent, 

 whom they carried with them, so that at the foot of the 

 bastions and posts there was a salad 2 of living and dead 

 and wounded, one upon another, so that they could not be 

 distinguished, because upon all fell so many pots of powder 

 and fireworks, that it presented an infernal spectacle. 



The fleet was now entering the bar, and the foists, which 

 were ready, went and got alongside of the ships in order to 

 assist each other ; and they welcomed the enemy with a salvo 

 of artillery so well laid out, that they made them lose the 

 pride with which they came, cutting them up with the 

 death of many ; and nevertheless, as they were going at 

 full speed, they went running on past the part 3 of Sao Lou- 

 renco , where was the vicar of the country, who with his harque- 

 busery fustigated 4 and scathed them right well ; and as the 

 enemy were already within the bank 5 , and so near that all the 

 shots both from the ship and foists as well as from the land took 

 effect upon them much to their cost, they slowed down, and in 

 the midst of falcon and matchlock shots made for the land, 

 so that in itself it was a very hot battle ; and in all the posts, 

 where our men fought with much valour and vigour, they heard 

 the battle on the seaside, without knowing what it was. 



1 In place of " with many cries " the manuscript has " and." 



2 As we should say, " a hotch-potch." Faria y Sousa, in his sum- 

 mary of Couto's account, uses the word balsa, " puddle." 



3 Here, again, parte may be a misreading for ponta. 



4 For the fustigou of the printed edition the manuscript has festejou, 

 " welcomed." Either may be right. 



6 This sandbank has now been dredged away ; but it will be found 

 marked in the older maps and charts of Columbo. 



