\ 
I 
Chap.XXIlI. A Defcripion 0/ C E Y L O 
7'7 
»Ie. 
Calcrure. 
Defcyip- Gale has a commodious Bay^ fit for 
0" Anchorage, except that with a South- 
Weft Wind the Sea runs very hollow 
there. At the very Entrance of the Har- 
bour liesa dangerous Rock, near to which 
all Ships muft pafs, and againft which the 
Hercules^ one of our Ships, was ftav'd 
to pieces. There is no coming into the 
Bay, unlefs you pafs by the Water-Fort, 
which is well provided with Cannon for 
the Security of the Harbour. The For- 
tifications of the City it felf confiil: only 
in three Baflions, the reft being fo in- 
closM with the Sea and Rocks, that there 
is no approaching to it even with the 
fmalleft Boats. On the top of a Rock 
which jets out into the Sea is a Lanthorn, 
and an Iron Cannon, wherewith they 
give warning to the Ships, and near it 
you fee the Company's Flag difplay'd. 
The City is well built of Stone, very 
high, with goodly Houfes, a ilately 
Church, pleafant Gardens, and moft de- 
licious Springs ; the Mountains which fur- 
round it afix)rding a pleafant Profped, 
over which you pafs thro Roads cut out 
of the Rocks, caWd by thtm Gravettes. 
About a days Journy from Gale itands 
the Fort of Caletun^ in a moft delight- 
ful Country, near the Entrance of a large 
and broad River, on the Sea-fhore, fur- 
rounded by a double ftrong Wall of 
Earth. It was reduced by the Diredor 
General Gerard Huljl, 15 0<5?. 1(555, 
the following manner. 
mvefled Having rendevouied his Forces, con- 
fining of 593 men, n^av Bentotte, and be- 
ing join'd the i^tb of September by fome 
more Troops under Chrijlopher Egger^ Leo- 
nard Wiltfchut^ and A^clchior van Schoon- 
kek^ they direded their March towards 
Calcture. But being informed that the 
Enemy were rcfolved to make a vigorous 
Defence, and our Artillery being not yet 
come up, it was thought advifable to de- 
tach Capt. Abraham Cous and Jurian Cevcls 
with five Companys, to fecure the Pafs 
of Oucatte over the River, thereby to 
prevent the Enemy from receiving any 
Supplies, till the arrival of our Ships, 
that were expected every day with more 
Forces, 
The 19th we took a view of all the A- 
venues leading to the Place j and Guards 
being plac'd in all convenient Pofts, the 
Fador Renier Seroosherken and Mr. Ysbrand 
Godsken were difpatch'd to our Ships, to 
fend us the necelFary Artillery and Am- 
munition. 
The ph of Oiiober Advice was brought 
by two of the Natives, that the Garifon, 
confifling of 300 oien, was but flenderly 
the 
ucch. 
provided with Provifions, their whole CVV^* 
Store confifting only in ^o^ Parr as ^ and 7>?^ 
two fmall Packs of dry'd Fifh, and that ^- Edch 
they were forc'd to live upon Canfies^ or Titrras k 
Water and Rice. 4^^ 
The 6th of OcJober after we had mount- 
ed fome Great Guns upon our Batteries, 
a certain fTopas^who had been Secretary t ^Topa^ 
to Captain Marcello Fialho^ came over 10 ''^l-''^^'^^^ 
us, who difcovered to the Gensrsi Huift tjlT 
tne whole Strengtn or the Enemy, ana and an \n- 
the Names of their Officers ^ adding, dian 'So- 
that4 or 5 days before his departure there 
were about 210 Parras of Rice in the 
Store-houfe, whereof they diftributed a 
certain quantity to each Soldier every 
day, and to the King's Negroes c'ali'd 
II Caffers^ a Quart a piece: That they ||CafFei-s 
had no Lafcaryns in the Place, and as *f fNegrcs 
he believ'd could not hold it above 10 ^>ks tbsie . 
days, thothey feem'd refolved to defend '^Mn.sola- 
it to the laft extremity, in hopes of be- 
ing relieved the next week by Caf^ar Fl- 
geiro. 
The fame day Major John van der Laan 
brought word that all was well fecured 
on his Attack ^ and Captain James Swart^ 
and the Fador Abraham Hartman brought 
up with 60 Seamen the two great Can- 
non that were left behind. Capt. Dian- 
teiro v/as aifo detachM with 40 Dutch Sol- 
diers, and a good number of Lafcaryns^ 
to the Pafs of Wellikande j and the Gene- 
ral Gerard Huljh with Mr. Adrian van dtr 
Meyden having taken a view of our Bat- 
teries, did go to take a view of the Pais 
wtav Palletottc^ where, as well as on the 
other fide, they found every thing to their 
fatisfadion, 756 men being imployed oa 
that fide. 
The qth of OBober they went up the 
River as far as Wellikande^ to fee whether 
the Enemy could receive any Supplies of 
Provifions by the Brook, or from above 
by the way of Anguratotte and Tiboene 5, 
but found it not feafible by reafonof the 
fhallownefs of the Water. However five 
Ferry-boats were fhew'd them in the nar- 
roweft Places of the River, where hav- 
ing placed fome Lafcaryns^ they com- 
mitted the management thereof to Mr. 
John van dcr Laan. Theiith of Ocioher 
a Mortar of a large fize and a 12 Poun- 
der were mounted on the Battery, and 
Mr. John van der Laan came to tell the 
General that the fecond Battery would be 
ready to play on his fide the fame night. 
The -[^th in the Morning we faw a 
Portuguefc Lieutenant and Drummer with 
a white Flag, coming out of the Fort, 
fent by Anthonio Mendes d* Aranha their 
Commander in chief, with the following 
Letter, Having 
