32 
History of Ceylon 
Dutch sealed in wax with the pummel of his scymetar, and 
directed to tiie Dutch admiral who was then besieging the^Por^ 
tiiguese in Goa. - 
The Portuguese endeavoured by every means to dissolve tliis 
alliance. They represented to the Dutcli that the Candians 
were to be considered only in the light of revolted subjects 
of the crowns of Spain and Portugal. These representations, 
however, producing no effect, the war between the Portuguese 
and Dutch began to rage with more fury than ever, and a 
number of severe engagements,' attended with various success, 
took place between them in different parts of India. 
In 1638, a Dutch fleet under admirals Westerwold and Kostei 
arrived at Ceylon, and offered their services to Raja Singa, 
who prepared to received them. The Portuguese, perceiving 
the imminent danger wdiicli threatened them, called a council 
of w^ar to deliberate whether they should at once evacuate the 
island, or hold out to the last. The latter course being deter- 
mined on, they resolved to attack Raja Singa before he should 
be joined by his new allies. A force, under the command of 
Don Diego de Melo, marched to Candy which was taken 
without resistance, the King evacuating it on their approach 
and retiring to the mountains of Digliggy Neur. The Portu- 
guese, after plundering Candy, encamped three miles from it 
at Gannoor. The King now ordered all the roads to be broken 
up by which the Portuguese communicated with their fort at 
Wallanee ; and suddenly arriving with his army surrounded the 
enemy. The Portuguese now too late endeavoured to avert 
destruction by negociation ; but the King refused to listen 
to any accommodation ; and taking advantage of a shower of 
rain, which on this as on a former occasion rendered the 
