36 
i 
Histoiy of Cefon 
ing one of the outworks, this brave man received a mortal 
>vound and instantly expired. He was’ deeply regretted both- 
by his own countrymen, and Raja Singa :■ even the Portuguese 
lamented an enemy who had always proved as generous and 
humane as lie was formidable. He had proved himself on all 
occasions an able statesman and an excellent soldier. Vander 
Meyden wdio succeeded liini in the command, continued the siege 
of Columbo wdth great vigour ; and having received supplies- 
from Batavia and Tutocoreen, he was enabled at the same 
time to reduce several forts along the coasts. The Portuguese, 
however, fought wdth the utmost bravery ; and disputed every 
pass, and every fort wdth their antagonists. Their courage seem- 
ed even to increase w ith their difficulties ; and they still continued 
to reject all proposals to surrender Columbo wdth disdain. At 
length, however, they Avere attacked by enemies, against w liom 
all valour was in vain. The place Avas but ill provisioned 
for a seige, and as no supplies could be throAvn in, Famine and 
Disease began to subdue th.ose brave spirits Avhich had despised 
death in every other shape. After sustaining a siege of seven 
months, and after braving innumerable hardships, the Portu- 
guese at last surrendered Columbo to the Dutch in May 16’56. 
This siese is said to have cost the combatants not fewer than 
o 
three thousand lives. The garrison, according to its capitula- 
tion, v/as sent to- Negapatam ; and by the fall of this place, 
an end Avas in fact put to the dominion of the Portuguese ex- 
actly a century and a half after their first arrival. 
A few forts of little consequence still remained to them in 
the more northernly parts. In 1658^ the Dutch under Vander 
Goens took Manaar, and the Portuguese were shut up in Jaf- 
napatam the only fort Avhich noAv remained to tliem. Here, 
