A Defcriftion 0/ C E Y L O N. 
to get frequent intelligence of the Po- 
Baldism, u ^^^q of the Enemy, and how to bring 
' provifions laid up for the Relief of 
the Place at Belantotte, into the Fort j 
^' the Succefs whereof you lhall notify to 
" us with the firft opportunity, that we 
" may fend frefh Supplies of Rice both 
for your ufe, and of the Garifon in the 
Fort. If you can meet with anyPro- 
" virions in the Country, you will not 
fail to feize them for your Convenicn- 
cy. 
^' In cafe you fliould prove fuccefsful 
" in the relief of Cakture^ you muft 
jom your Forces, and the Captain Ma- 
jpr of the Place mult fubmit to your 
" Command. We don't queftion but 
you will not be wanting in your Duty 
" in a Bufinefs of fuch vaft moment, 
whereon depends the Prefervation and 
" Welfare, not only of this City, but 
" alfoof the whole Ifle. 
" If after the Relief of Caleture you 
find, that for want of Provifions, or 
" for other weighty reafons, the Fort is 
" not to be raaintain'd, you fhall agree 
" among your felves what is fitteft to be 
done for his Majefty's Intereft, whe- 
ther it be not the bell way to bring 
the Fortifications into a narrower Cora- 
" pafs, and. leaving only 150 Men for 
" the defence thereof, to join the reft 
with your Body. 
" If you find it imprafticable to bring 
" any Supplies into the Fort, you ihall 
" entrench your felf at a convenient di- 
ftance, and from thence give notice to 
" Anthonio Mendes Aranha^ the Go- 
" vernour, that he fhall nail up all the 
" Cannon, deftroy all the Ammunition, 
'* and make thebeftot his way to your 
" Camp, thereby topreferve fuch brave 
" Troops, on whom in fome meafure 
" depends the Defence of this City. 
At Columbo, 0^?. Signed, 
13. 1655. Antonio de SouzaCoutinho. 
And lower, 
" Juft upon the Conclufion of thefe 
" Prefents we have received the exped- 
" ed Succours from the Indian Coaft, 
'* which confifting of 200 men, is to be 
" joined with your Troops. We re- 
commend you to God's Proteftion. 
Columbo, 1 5 05. 
1655. 
CHAP. XXV. 
J fmom Highmy-man taken. The Beginning of the Siege of Columbo. Ths 
Emferor offers the Dutch his Jjjijiance. Hps Letter to the Dutch General. 
* Apaha- 
mie K an 
Officer of 
Note. 
t Haratie 
H a Set- 
pant, 
(I Lafcaryn 
a common 
Soldier. 
Diffave 
a Govcr- 
nour. 
A fimous 
Robber 
A ThankJ- 
i'lving-da)/, 
A Bout the fame time arrived three 
* Apahamies^ and as many f Hara- 
ties with fome i| Lafcaryns^ from the Im- 
perial Courts and the '^Dijfave oi Saffra- 
gamme\Nith Letters from Mr. Jom Her- 
njendomk our Refident at Candy intimat- 
ing that he had been commanded by his 
Majelly to notify his being ill of an Ague, 
and that he hop'd before long to be with 
all his Nobility at Columbo. In return of 
which another Letter was fent to his 
Majefty, to notify our Viftory over the 
Enemy. 
The fame day Advice was brought that 
the famous Highway-man Francifco An- 
thunes was fallen into the hands of fome 
of our Lafcarynsy wherefore a Detach- 
ment was order'd to bring him into the 
Camp but either thro the Cold and In- 
conveniences of the Journy, or rather 
out of fear, he dy'd by the way, and 
was bury'd. 
About the fame day a Thankfgiving- 
, day was alfo appointed to be held the 
i^th of Oaober, to return thanks to God 
for having blelfed our Arms with Succefs, 
and begging his Mercy for the future. 
The 2iy? the General with fome other 
Officers of Note having taken a view of 
the Situation of the City of Columbo at 
QuiadeLobo, order'd all forts of Materials 
to be brought thither from Montual^ for 
the raifing of a Battery, and hired 50 
Pioneers for that purpofe. 
The lid the Dijfave of Sajfragamme 
appeared in Perfon in a Houfe formerly 
belonging to Diego Melo de Cafiro Gover- 
nour of Columbo, offering certain Sup- 
plies of Men from his Majefly, which was 
thankfully received by the General. 
The 13d another Battery was ereded 
near the Church of St. Sebaftian. 
Two days after came into the Camp 
the Emperor's Dijfave oi the Four Corks at 
the head of 700 men and the fame Even- 
ing the General received a Letter writ 
with his Majeily's own Hand, and 
brought by one of his own Poft-men : It 
was curioufly perfumed with all forts 
of Spices, and on each fide you faw the 
* Figure 
