738 
A Defcripion of C E Y L O N. 
The loth of March a Negro Pioneer 
came over to us, who having worked in 
the Ditch, difcover'd the Place to us, 
and that four Portuguefes being taken as 
they were coming to our Camp, had been 
hanged. That our new Battery had kil- 
led two Canar-yns and a Gunner, and 
wounded feveral others upon the Baftion 
of St. Stephen. Concerning their Provi- 
fions, they confirmed what had been told 
us before. The General went with the 
faid Negro in Perfon to the Ditch, 
to fee the Place where the Negro had 
been at work, and perceiving three Por- 
tuguefes clofe together in the Ditch, he 
got upon the Wall, and difcharged his 
Fufee twice at them ^ but foon got down 
again, without which he had been in '^'^^^"^ 
great Danger, three Bullets pafling imme- 'f^. J 
diately after that way. ^mgd. 
CHAP. XXXIIL 
Ysbrand Gotskens returns from the Emperor^s Coart^ gives an account of his 
Tranfaciions. Letters fent to Columbo. A Batterj raifed. A circumfian- 
tid account from Goa, and, its Condition . 
A Boy A Bout noon a Boy was taken in our 
ken as a x\ Works, where Paul Meno then 
kept guard, inquii ing after our Strength ^ 
and being ask'd why, he anfwer'd that 
the Governor of Columbo had fent him 
to enquire after it : Inconfidtration of his 
Youth and Simplicity, he came off with 
a good whipping, and fo was fent back 
into the City, Major van der Laait kni 
word, that the Enemy having ma^e a 
Hole thro the Wall, played from thence 
diredly upon his Works, and had kill'd 
a Negro ^ and the fame Night they playM 
with a Cannon upon the fame Works, 
but without hurting any Body. 
The 23fl'of March towards Evening, 
the Faftor Ysbrand Gotskens having taken 
his Leave the fame day of the Empe- 
ror, return'd to our Camp, where he 
gave the following account in Writing 
Ysbrand of his Negotiation : " That in anfwer to 
'^wf T "five feveral Letters written by General 
™»?V " hulft to his Majefty, he had command- 
his Negoti- " ed him to tell the General, that hav- 
atifjn. ct ing received a Letter dated the i5^l> 
" at Columbo, he would let him know 
/ " the Contents thereof. That his Ma- 
jelly was well fatisfied with the Pro- 
ceedings againft fuch as were fled out 
of the City ^ which tho it might feem 
fomewhac cruel, yet was he contented 
to have the Blame thereof himfelf, 
" as tending to his Service, and the fpee- 
dy reducing of the City. That be- 
" caufe his iMajefty was fenfible that what- 
" ever Prefents he could make to the Ge- 
neral of rich Apparel, and fuch like 
Ornaments, he was fufficiently 'provi- 
" ded with before, he had thought fit 
to bsllow upon him the Title and Dig- 
niry of his DireBor-General^ and that 
" for the future he fhould be acknow- 
" ledged as fuch throughout his Donaini- 
" ons. That he further defired the Ge- 
" neral not to takeitamifs, that after 
" the Dijfaves had notified . his Arrival 
" in the Camp of Reygamwatte^ a Guide 
had been denied to the Captain of the 
Guard, it being contrary to the Cuftora 
" of his Country for any one to be in- 
*' troduced at Court, without notice 
" being given of his Arrival to the Em- 
" peror. 
" What the General had alledged 
concerning the Moujfon^ and the Sol- 
" diers being fatigued by fo tedious a 
" Siege, his Majefty was very fenfible 
" thereof, and that when the General 
" fhould come into his Prefence (which 
" he hoped would be within three or 
" four days) they would confer upon 
" that Point, and fettle the matter to 
his Satisfaction : But his Majefly being 
inform'd that his Excellency frequent- 
" ly expos'd his Perfon, and regarding 
him with the fame tendernefs as his 
own Eyes, had defir'd his Excellency 
for the future to take more care of 
his Perfon, commanding all his Officers 
" of what Quality foever, to be careful 
" of him to the lail degree. 
" What his Excellency had alledged, 
" concerning hisMajefty's being conftant- 
" ly employed in Weighty Affairs, and 
" that therefore he was unwilling to dif- 
" turb him with frequent Letters, his 
" Majefty replied, that the Subjed of his 
" Excellency's Letters being fuch, as 
" raofl nearly concerned his Service, no- 
" thing could be more acceptable to hira, 
" than to beftow his time in perufing the 
" Letters of the moll trufty Servant 
" that 
