under the Portuguese, 1 7 
' tlieir dominion. These tyrannical invaders therefore pursued 
the Cinglese to their forests and fastnesses ; and the latter, in 
their turn, made frequent incursions on the sea-coasts, and 
often destroyed the richest plantations of the Portuguese. Tliis 
desultory warfare continued for almost a century with much 
bloodshed, and no real advantage to either party. The intenial 
government of the natives at that time, indeed, enabled the 
Portuguese to acquire considerable accessions of territory. The 
jurisdiction of the interior was parcelled out among a variety 
of petty princes, each of whom was the sovereign of his particu- 
lar tribe, or separate valley. It was the policy of the Portu- 
guese to stir up animosities between these princes, and to 
prevent their making a common cause for the deliverance of 
their country. When any open quarrel broke out between 
the islanders, their European neighbours were ever ready to 
lend their assistance to either of the parties who desired it. 
That prince who solicited their alliance was of course success- 
ful ; and they had always the prudence to see their own gene- 
rosity rewarded, by taking possession of the territories of the 
vanquished prince. By these arts they gradually extended their 
dominions farther into the interior of the island ; and wherever 
they became masters, their avarice and bigotry prompted them 
to perpetrate such cruelties, as have ever since rendered the 
name of European hateful to the ears of a Cinglese. 
While the natives of Ceylon were thus daily perishing in 
fruitless struggles against the regular discipline and concerted 
plans of the Portuguese, a powerful assistance was offered them, 
which promised to put a speedy end to their miseries. No 
sooner had the Dutch succeeded in throwing off the Spanish 
yoke, than their commercial and enterprising spirit led them 
D 
