35 
under the Portuguese. 
bled them to recover the advantage in that quarter, as well as 
to secure their possessions at Matura and Point de Galle. 
In the following year both parties received frequent reinforce- 
ments from India, and many severe engagements were fought. 
The Dutch were generally victorious by sea ; and in one en- 
gagement by land they drove the Fortiigiiese forces into Co- 
lumbo. The dominions of Raja Singa during this time were 
left undisturbed, except once that the Portuguese, seeing no 
active movements on the part of the Dutch, took this op- 
portunity of marching to Candy and plundering the country. 
They defeated Raja Singa’s troops, but being taught by ex- 
perience, they abandoned the country as soon as they had laid 
it waste, and returned without delay to Columbo. 
The Dutch general Gerard Hulst now arrived in 1655 with 
succours to his countrymen, and having immediately attacked 
Caltura, he carried it by assault, lie afterwards had an audi- 
ence of the King of Candy, at which Raja Singa told him that 
he should have half the kingdom, if he could but extirpate 
the Portuguese. The Dutch general now invested Columbo, but 
after a long siege he was at length compelled to abandon the 
enterprise by the extraordinary valour of the Portuguese under 
Antonio de Cotina. The Portuguese in vain sued for a truce : 
they also made several attempts to detach the King from his 
alliance with the Dutch ; but general Hulst, who was a most 
intelligent and able man, rendered all their arts fruitless. At 
a second audience he did homage on his knees till the King 
desired him to rise, and by presents and civilities entirely 
conciliated Raja Singa to the interests of the Dutch. 
The general now again commenced the siege of Columbo ; 
but having advanced at the head of a party who were storm- 
F 2 
