Chap.XLIIL A Defcripion o/GEYLON. 791 
/^r, Feni^ vidi^ wci^ being beyond all 
queftion one of the greateft Actions that 
ever happened betwixt us and the Ponu- 
gwfcs in the Indies^ confidering we were 
forc'd to attack the Enemies Forces, com- 
pofed of Veteran European Soldiers, and 
to chafe them from their advantageous 
Polls, and that only with 800 Men, and 
confequently with the utraoft hazard \ 
being refolv'd either to overcome or die 
in the Attempt, becaufe we had quite 
drain'd the Garifon of Columbo^ leaving 
only a few, and thofe infirm Perfons to 
guard that Place, becaufe we expe£led 
hourly the Arrival of the Ship the Sala- 
mandw with fomc 1 00 Soldiers, and good 
Store of Ammunition and Prbvifion, bar- 
ing aboard the Commodore Peter de Bit- 
ter^ the Fador Edward Ooms^ and Captain 
Peter Wafch. The fame having been de- 
tained by Calms and Tempefts for near fix 
Months, and endur'd great Hardfliips a- 
bouc the Maldive Iflauds, arriv'd at iaft 
fafely at Columbo^ but was foon after or- 
der'd by the Governor Mrian van der ^^"^-^^ 
Meyden^ to fail to Manaar^ where flie supply </ 
came to an Anchor immediately after We Men ard 
had made our felves Mafters of that Ifle, Vrovifm.sr, 
and were jult then preparing to march to- 
wards Jafnapatmm. But before we leave 
Manaar^ we muft add fomething con- 
cerning the true Condition of this Ifland. 
CHAP. 
