426 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XX. 



The general being advised of everything reformed the arrayal 

 by ordering all the native soldiery to attach themselves to it, 

 which would be about two. thousand two hundred Portuguese 

 soldiers, the commander of whom was Salvador Pereira, and of 

 the native troops Pinhao and Francisco de Brito : and he ordered 

 them to go and fortify themselves in a place called Tranqueira 

 Alanha 1 , where they made a strong tranqueira of wood with its 

 traverses, sentry-boxes, and ditches, so as to remain there in 

 the midst of these two armies of enemies at an equal distance 

 from one and the other, in order by this means to curb the 

 enemy, and make them lose the pride they had and the hopes of 

 prevailing against us, because thus they could not succour 

 one another, their forces thereby being divided. And after 

 having well fortified themselves our men sallied forth greatly 

 puffed up, leaving the tranqueira well provided, and with 

 great mettle proceeded to attack the arrayal in the direction 

 of the Seven Corlas, on which they fell in the dawning watch 

 so unexpectedly, that they caught them before they had yet 

 finished the fort that they were making there, which was in the 

 roots of a hill range, the woods on which they had cut down 

 round about, leaving no more entrance to the fort than by two 

 gorges, which likewise they had fortified with strong tran- 

 queiras, and in them two thousand men ; and the rest of the 

 army was on the hill above, with orders that , on being attacked 

 by our men, they were to issue forth on one side and attack 

 them in the rear. 



As soon as our men reached the gorges they at once with 

 great determination attacked the enemy ; but the latter 

 discharged their ammunition, whereby they brought down 

 several of our lascarins, and the rest began to retire, upon 

 which the Portuguese hastened up and passed to the front, 

 and attacked the enemy with so much energy, that in spite of 

 the great resistance that they met with from them they forced 

 their way in, killing one of the captains or modeliares and many 

 of his men. And whilst taken up with this victory, there 

 came upon them the rebel Simao Correa, who it was that was 

 stationed on the hill above, and fell upon our men in the rear ; 

 but as they were all flushed with pride, they turned upon him 

 with an astonishing fury, and after the battle had lasted a 

 long time they put the enemy to the rout and flight, and in the 

 pursuit they killed many, and by the great mercy of God 

 returned laden with arms, without its costing them more than 

 two Portuguese and some native lascarins. 



1 Apparently a misprint for " Alauha," that is, Allawwa (see 

 C. A. tf, Jl. xvi. 95, note). 



