No. 60. — 1908.] couto ; history op ceylon. 



361 



they ate nothing but herbs and jungle fruits, having no better 

 lodging to repose in than the open field and the earth soaked 

 with much water, as it rained every day : whereby they all 

 became so weakened, that had it not been for the courage and 

 natural disposition of Simao de Abreu, most of them would 

 have perished on that journey ; for he helped each one in his 

 troubles just as if he were not undergoing them likewise, 

 strengthening them and encouraging them, and assisting them 

 so much, that one of the company having fallen down through 

 being able to bear up no longer, begging him with hands raised 

 to leave him there, he prepared for him a hand-barrow of four 

 pieces of wood crossed, and asked the sailors to carry him. 

 and he was the first that laid hold of it and took it on his 

 shoulders. What gave much trouble to these shipwrecked 

 people was the many and great lakes that they crossed 1 , which 

 detained them much ; and going so one day there was left 

 behind, as already dead, a soldier, who had been carried 

 thither by a brother, who likewise could no longer bear up : 

 which Simao de Abreu learning of made them all halt, and be 

 went back alone with some sailors, and consoled 2 and comforted 

 him, reminding him to commend himself to God, and so he 

 made him rise. Eight days having passed of this affliction, 

 they reached some villages 3 , where the natives detained them 

 and treated them well, and sent a message to the king of 

 Jafanapatao, who at once sent for them, and received them 

 very humanely, commanding them to be provided with every- 

 thing in great abundance 4 ; and after recovering strength they 

 went to Manar 5 ; and Joad de Mello, who was captain, gave 

 them a ship, in which they left for Cochim, and reached that 

 city on the 8th of January, Simao de Abreu de Mello, 



1 As they kept near to the seashore they had to cross the mouths of 

 the various kalapu or backwaters as well as of the numerous rivers. 



2 The manuscript by an oversight omits " and he went back 



consoled." 



3 This would be at the beginning of January 1588. Perhaps by the 

 " some villages " are meant Mullaittivu and its adjacent villages. 



1 This statement is difficult of credence. The king of Jaffna reigning 

 at this time was anything but a friend of the Portuguese ; and a few 

 years later (in 1591) a Portuguese force under Andre Furtado de Men- 

 doca landed at Mannar, marched on Jaffna, and defeated and killed 

 the king and his heir, the second son being set upon the throne as a 

 vassal of the king of Portugal (see infra, pp. 393-4). I rather think 

 that it must have been some underling of the king's who showed kind- 

 ness to Simao de Abreu's company. 



5 Whether by sea or by land does not appear, 



