Chip.XVll A Dejcripion of CEY L 6 
701 
guej'cs^ finding that the European Nations 
had fcill a free acccfs into the Kingdom 
of Candy by the River Palliagatmne (o- 
therwife cali'd Butccalo) they were con- 
triving all polfible means to fecure that 
Pallage to themfelves. 
Cmtri' 1° accomplilh their end with all ima- 
vdnctof ginable Seciecy, they pitch'd upon a 
the Porta- MilJ'ice^ an experienc'd Engineer, who 
gucfes. being of a dark Colour, was fent in the 
difguife of a Gufuratte Joj^y^ or Mendicant 
Frier ^ from Columbo to Batscalo^ who 
fettled hiinfelf in the Village of 
ture i from whence having taken a full 
view of all the circumjacent Country for 
two years together, he pitch'd upon a 
fandy Place about 2 {■ Leagues from the 
Village, for the eredting of the deligned 
Forti but finding upon ft rift enquiry, 
that the Channel leading that way from 
the Mouth of the River, was the greateft 
part of the Year chok'd up with Sand, 
and that confequently there would be no 
convenicncy of getting frelh Water there, 
he was forc'd to go about 5 Leagues lower 
down the River, where meeting with a 
fmair Ifle of a League in circuit, and not 
above a Mile diftant from the main Chan- 
nel, convey'd thither dire9:ly from the 
Mouth of the River, he returned to 
Columbo ; and having given a full account 
to the Government there of the advan- 
tageous Situation of this Ifle for their in- 
tended Projeft, the Portuguefes fent 
him back in 1627. with i 3 Companies of 
Soldiers, in order to put it in execution. 
Thefe, at their arrival, having fecured 
themfelves by throwing up fome In- 
trench men ts inclosM with Palifadoes, 
to work they went with all expedition to 
perfect the intended Fortrefs, which ivas 
of a Quinquangular Figure, with three 
Baflions. 
Tht Cin- ^'"S of Cundy had no fgoner intelli- 
galcfes are g^nce thereof, but he fent a good Body of 
rffuls'cL Troops thither to prevent their Dehgn : 
They made fhift to land in the Ifland, but 
were forc'd to retreat without elfcding 
any thing, and leave the Portuguefes to 
perfed their Fortifications, which they 
did foon after, being well provided with 
all forts of lilaterials for fuch a Pur- 
pofe. 
The Empe- Ti^s Emperor finding himfelf thus by 
TOT engages HO Icfs than fevcn Capital Forts, built on 
w-VA the all the bcH Avenues of the Ifle, rcduc'd 
Soilum^ ^"^^ Straits by the Portuguefes^ that 
to. " without their Confent he was not in a 
condition to keep the IcaftCorrefpondence 
with any foreign Nation, refolved to try 
his utmoft to draw thefe Thorns out of 
his Flefh. For this purpofe he thought fit 
to try the Inclinations of the Cingalcf':s 
inhabiting at Columbo \ and finding them S.iidxiu,^ 
ready to revolt by rcafon of the many ^--^'"-^ 
Indignities received from the Porttigucfa^ 
he engaged them to his Party. 1 hings 
being thus fettled, the only thing remain- 
ing was how to entice their General Con- 
flantine de Saa to take the Field, by which 
means they might find an opportunity of 
going over to the F^mperor. Knowing 
therefore that JOon Michael de A^uYonbay 
Conde de Linbaros^ the then Viceroy of 
Coif, had lately wrote an affronting Letter 
to thefaid General, wherein he told him, 
that he was more fit for a Merchant than 
a Soldier, and that he regarded more his 
own Profit than the King's Glory, and 
his Conqueft ^ they infinuated into him, 
that fince both his Expeditions againft 
Candy had prov'd unfuccefsful, it would 
not be amifs (to retrieve his Honour) to 
try his Fortune againfliOHw, promiiing 
to appear in the Field with all their Pow- 
er, which they did accordingly. 
Conflantin de Saa the Portugucfc Gene- 
ral was fo highly pleas'd at this Propofi- 
tion, that he not only gladly embraced 
it, but alfo fent a Challenge to Comarrc, 
Singe Hajlannc, . Prince of Ouve^ eldcit 
Son of the Emperor Zenerat yld.ifeyn, 
who font him word, that he w'ould c.x- 
peft his coming like a Man of Honour. 
Accordingly the /VfMj^'Hr/f General took The?oKi\' 
the Field the 7,0th of Jugnjl, with r 300 8"^^^^ 
of his own Countrymen, 1 700 Mijiices^ ^Fkid 
and 8000 Cingalefes \ and the Prince of 
Ouvc being join'd by his two Brothers, 
ryfiapalla and ^.oja Singa^ ra^.de up an 
Army of 23000 m'en, v?ho (according 
to the Advice of the Emperor their Fa- 
ther) kept at a diftance, fecming to a- 
void an Engagement. The Portuguefes 
being much furprizcd at their being fuf- 
fer'd to pafs the Mountains of Ouvc with- 
out the leafi: Oppofition, march'd di- 
rectly, to Jiadule the Capital City of riunJa 
that Dukedom, which they took and Pudnk. 
plunder'd with all the circumjacent Coun- 
try, and fo .retired again towards the 
Mountains, the Princes being all the 
while Spedtators of their Ravages, with 
a refolution to watch their opportunity of 
taking a fevere Revenge, fo foon as the 
Cingakfes (according to their Promife ) 
fhoLild defert the Portuguefes. 
Ti»efe things were not fo fccretly car- 
ried on, but that Conftamin de Saa got 
forae fcent of the matter. This made 
him fummon before him all their chie£ 
Officers, unto whom he reprefented the 
Reafonsof his Sufpicion, but in very ob- ^ 
liging Terms, thinking in his heft v^'ay 
to 
