7=8 
A Defcripion 0/ C E Y L O N. 
it, having laid the Train by the means of 
certain Bambocanes, which were to be 
lighted on the top whilfl: we were afTault- 
ing the faid Baftion, which was the rea- 
fon that they had not difchargM their 
Cannon from thence thefe two days paft. 
They added, that the Son of Anthonio 
de Souza Coutinho the Governor of Co- 
lumbo^ being bufy in incouraging the 
Workmen by his own Example, receiv'd 
a Wound by a Mufquet-fliot in the Head, 
of which he died foon after. A Coun- 
cil of War was alfo call'd, in which it 
Rdhijitm was refolv'd to carry on the Trenches 
tak^en in a with all imaginable vigor, to prevent the 
Council "f Enemy in perfeding his Retrenchments 
War. 
before the Breach of the Baftion of 
S. John, and to fix our Miners there. 
The I'jth the General gave notice to 
the Diflaves of Saffragam and the four 
Cor/«, that he intended to fend an En- 
voy to his Majefty, to know his Inclina- 
tions, whether he intended to appear 
in Perfon in our Camp or not : he de- 
fir'd them to write to him upon the fame 
Subjed, the time for attempting a fe- 
cond general A (fault drawing near-, and 
that in cafe his Majefty had the leaft 
doubt left of our fincere Intentions, he 
would give him full Satisfadion upon that 
Head. 
CHAP. XXIX. 
The Portuguefes throw Stones out of a Mortar. We make a third Redoubt : 
Endeavour to lay the Gallery over the Ditch. A Spy hanged. Letters from 
Coromandel. 
Another 
Redoubt 
erelled. 
THE i^th of December in the Eve- 
ning the Portuguefes began to throw 
feveral Stones out of a Mortar into our 
Works, which fomething furpriz'd us at 
firft, but afterwards weguefs'd that it was 
SimonLopes vjho lately deferted our Service 
that had put them in the way of it. The 
next day Capt. John Hartman was fenc 
with Letters to the Emperor at Candy^ 
and v;e were hard at work to bring the 
third Redoubt near the Sea-fhore to per- 
fedion, where we planted a Mortar, and 
continued our approaches to the Counter- 
fear p. 
A Chinefe Deferter, a Native of Macao^ 
reported that they were indifferently 
well provided with Provifions in the City, 
and that it was true that the Governor's 
Son was dead. Letters were at the fame 
difpatch'd to Mr. Laurence Pit^ Governor 
o( Coromandel^ to fend us fome Ammuniti- 
on, and to order the Ships which upon the 
arrival of the Veffels from Tajouan fail 
from thence to Batavla^ to touch at Gale^ to 
be employ'd in thwarting the intended Suc- 
cours of the Portuguefes^ or to take aboard 
part of the Portuguefe Prifoners among us. 
The Sth of January^ finding the Ene- 
my bufy in planting Palifado's in the 
Ditch, fome Seamen arm'd with Hand- 
granado's made them foon quit that En- 
terprize. But the next following day 
finding the Enemy to have made fome 
guefei/o»' Entrenchments there, a Hole was or- 
tify them- jje^'^ be fngde in Wall ; and Cap- 
m Ditch. ^^3'" ^^"''-y <^f ^^»'^j the head Gunner and 
Ingineer, and Carpenter, being order'd 
to view the Work, they reported that 
the Enemy had planted a row of Pali- 
fado's clofe to one another, extending 
to the Sea-fliore, which made them ima- 
gine that they expeded the moft fierce 
Alfault on that fide. 
Six expert Carpenters having offer'd 
their Service for perfeding the Gallery, 
100 Crowns were promifed them as a 
Reward ; and it being refolv'd to fix the 
faid Gallery the next day under favour of 
our great Cannon and Fire-locks, a cer- 
tain number of Mufqueteers were or- 
der'd to the extremities of the Trenches: 
but the Wall being thicker at the bottom 
than at the top, it was almoft Evening 
before they could make a Breach in it, 
when attacking the Enemy with their 
Hand-granado's, they forced them from 
the Ditch, where they pofted 12 Fire- 
locks i but thefe receiv'd fo warm a Sa- 
lute from the Enemy's Cannon and Fire- 
locks both of the Baftions of S. John and The Dutch 
S. Stephen^ and the Palifado-work, that endeavour 
they were forced to retreat, and the 
fixing of the Gallery was thought fit to •^'^J^*"'" 
be delay'd till a more convenient time, 
having loft only one Carpenter and two 
N egroes in this Enterprize. John Rootha- 
the £)Mtc^/ Reer- Admiral fent 11 Jan. 
three Negro Prifoners from the Fleet in- 
to the Camp, who were taken coming 
with Letters from A^anaar^ in order to 
carry them into Columboj but they were 
of little moment, except what was con- 
tain'd 
