NO. 42—1891.] SIEGE OF COLOMBO. 



91 



for of the one who remained in the first post they had no 

 knowledge ; some of them indecent, and others more sensi- 

 ble, according to the humours that moved them ; oftentimes 

 they threw fruit, tobacco, and after similar things ; however, 

 generally there was one with the muzzle of his carbine 

 placed in one of the loopholes that were in the boards, and 

 being careless of our sentinels, several were killed, serving 

 as a warning to those more cautious, so that they might be 

 aware that as soon as they approached the dark opening they 

 would certainly be promptly fired upon. In this place, 

 where this sentinel was, there was only room for a man to 

 stand sideways, and with his right eye he had to watch the 

 loopholes of the planks. His other companion, who 

 remained at the first post, acted the sentinel lying face 

 downwards on the ground, not being able to do otherwise, 

 and kept a lookout between those boards, this place being 

 above the enemy. The orders that they had were, that if 

 the enemy advanced by that way on the bastion, they were 

 to discharge their blunderbusses upon them in such a man- 

 ner that the fire would strike the touch-hole of the case of 

 powder. This post was so dreadful and dangerous, that even 

 those of greater courage did not fail to be dismayed, and the 

 stoutest heart also became fearful ; not only on account of the 

 great danger, but also from seeing themselves cooped in; and 

 most of the nights they were not relieved, an intolerable 

 task. Wherefore some of these captains of whom there was 

 a good opinion, through not being able to endure it abandoned 

 that post and deserted from it to the enemy ; by which it 

 became so dangerous, that the one did not trust the other, 

 through fear of being killed by their companions or betrayed 

 to the enemy ; for he who was in the first post could easily 

 manage this ; and for these reasons not only did that first 

 zeal of those who were chosen for this occupation become 

 extinguished, but it lasted only until the fifth nomination, 

 and of all only three endured this terrible and insupportable 

 task to the end, which exceeded three months. One of them, 

 Manoel de Sousa, a native of Villa Vicosa, who, being small 



