under the Portuguese. 9 
ions, and already began to treat the unfortunate natives with 
much cruelty. 
It M'as at this period that Raja Singa started up; he was a 
man of low birth, but by his talents and intrepidity rose to 
the highest rank and power. He soon acquired such a com- 
plete ascendancy over the King, that he had most of the nobles 
put to death to satisfy his jealousy and ambition ; and lastly he 
finished his career by murdering the King himself and usurping 
the throne. The Ceylonese acquiesced the more readily in his 
government, as they looked to him for their deliverance from 
the Portuguese, who had now by their tyranny and religious 
persecution made themselves be regarded by the natives with the 
most mortal aversion. Raga Singa so far answered the expec- 
tations of his subjects, as to continue a long course of the most 
implacable hostilities against the Portuguese ; nor were his ex- 
ploits or character unlike those of a prince of the same name 
who, in the succeeding century, undertook a warfare of the same 
nature against the Dutch. 
After Raga Singa had taken possession of the crown and trea- 
sures of his master, he appointed Vinna Lamentina governor of 
the highlands, while he himself marched into the low country to 
carry on the war against the Portuguese. He commenced his 
attacks with much success, and his enemies with difficulty 
retained their footing in the island. Vinna, however, took 
advantage of his absence to excite an insurrection against him, 
and to make himself master of several of the internal provinces. 
Raja Singa was now obliged to turn his arms against this new 
enemy ; and the Portuguese by this means were enabled to 
recover themselves and to become the assailants in their turn. 
The usurper, finding himself hard pressed on every side, came 
C 
