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



[Vol. XX. 



Of this commotion and determination of these men Dom 

 Francisco de Noronha had warning, and immediately took 

 measures regarding it, ordering to place men of his command 

 in the boat, over which he constantly kept a strict watch. 

 And having passed Cape Comorim, he crossed that gulf in 

 very rough weather, which lasted until he had sight of the land 

 about Gale, and there they anchored two leagues out at sea, 

 without knowing where they were. And fearing to put in to 

 the coast by reason of the sea's being very high , and the wind 

 violent, and the weather so cloudy that it showed and gave 

 signs of the winter, which is there very dangerous, Dom 

 Francisco de Noronha was very undecided as to what he should 

 do, because there was a tumult among the soldiers, who wished 

 to land at Tutocori ; in which he intervened and put a stop to, 

 telling them and asserting to all that he was bound to go to 

 Ceilao on account of the great need in which that conquest 

 was of that succour ; because he knew very well, that if he 

 went to Tutocori not one of those soldiers that he was carrying 

 would remain, and that all the provisions and munitions 

 would be spoilt and consumed. And that on account of the 

 confidence that the viceroy had in him he chose him for that 

 expedition, which he must on no account fail to make, and 

 carry that succour to Columbo, even though he should risk 

 all dangers even to the loss of his life, because thereby the king 

 would be better served, and he would be fulfilling his duty. 

 And so resolute was he in this, that he ordered the money, 

 the firelocks, and munitions to be placed in casks and hogs- 

 heads, and the whole to be floated attached to thick and 

 strong cables for the time of need. And he told the officers, 

 that when there was no other resource they were to run the 

 ship aground on that land that was in sight, at a pact where 

 the men and the things of value could be saved ; that he under- 

 took to pay from his own fortune the owner for his ship. 

 And there remaining nothing for him to do, seeing that 

 there appeared a fine sandy beach, he ordered the boat to 

 be brought alongside, and equipped her very well with oars 

 and sailors, and asked one of the fidalgos that went with him 

 to embark in her, and to go and land on the beach that 

 was visible, and to try and get hold of some pilot who 

 should guide them to a safe port ; from which the fidalgo 



alvard, dated in Goa, 18 April 1598, which orders that all who had 

 been banished to Ceylon and all who had been pardoned on condition 

 of going to Ceylon were to embark therefor in that monsoon under pain 

 of forfeiting their securities, having their terms doubled, and other 

 penalties. From a note on page 3 of the Arch, da Eel. de Goa it seems 

 that those offenders who took part in the expedition against Cunhale 

 were pardoned, but to this there were exceptions. 



