NO. 42.— 1891.] SIEGE OF COLOMBO. 



101 



and that all those who had deserted to them had told them 

 what were the sufferings inside the city, and they did not 

 believe them, as it all appeared to them impossible. He 

 took us inside their works to show us the fortlets and 

 batteries, and during the conversation we had the opportunity 

 of asking him the quantity of balls and powder that they had 

 used : of balls, he said, the number was not known, for 

 beside a large quantity coming to them on three occasions, 

 they had made use of ours ; and of powder he mentioned 

 such a quantity that we were astounded ; 1 do not state it, as 

 I do not trust my memory : that there were engaged in that 

 siege, including reliefs, eight thousand three hundred and 

 fifty men, all from Europe, and of these there remained one 

 thousand two hundred who carried arms, and seven hundred 

 wounded and burnt ; that all the rest were dead. With this 

 he brought us into the city, lodging us in the Church of the 

 College of the Company, and in taking leave he said to us 

 that we could bring our clothes there, and each one transact 

 whatever business he had, because three days from then we 

 were to embark. 



At the door of that Church he ordered a company to be 

 placed on guard, in order that not a soldier of us should 

 receive injury, and any time that we wished to go out to 

 transact any business we did so without hindrance : only at 

 night they would not allow it, lest any accident should 

 happen to us : and on the Camp-Master-General's coming 

 across some soldiers who were trying to enter the house of a 

 rich citizen, he cut one to pieces with his sword, and two 

 were hanged ; and because of this he appointed four 

 watches, with very strict orders that no injury was to be 

 done to a single person of our people. Three days after 

 that he ordered us to embark, putting us on two ships with 

 some citizens and poor widows, but he would not allow us 

 to embark boxes or trunks, in order not to overload them ; 

 wherefore each one packed his clothes in bags and sheets. 

 In this manner we embarked, and in a few days arrived at 

 Negapatao, where they freely gave liberty to all those who 



