8 History of Ceylon 
into the sea, for his protection, before the Moors again renewed 
their attack, which they did with such fury and obstinacy 
as almost to overpower the bravery of the Portuguese. 
De Brito after having secured himself against the attaeks of 
the Moors, took advantage of some internal troubles which then 
distracted Ceylon, and obliged the King in the year 1522 at 
length to give a reluctant consent to a renewal of the original 
treaty^ as well as full permission to build a fortress at Columbo. 
This new treaty however was quickly infringed, and the Caii- 
dians succeeded in surprising Columbo while the greater part 
of the Portuguese troops had marched out against the na- 
tives. A desperate battle, in which the Ceylonese were com- 
pletely defeated, soon restored the superiority to the Europeans ; 
and the King was compelled not only to renew the terms of 
the original treaty, but also to give them several of his elephants 
and a large quantity of cinnamon. 
The King now began to despair of recovering Columbo, and 
only thought of preventing the Portuguese from extending their 
possessions. For this purpose he built a strong fortress at 
Sittivacca, 35 miles from Columbo ; and rendered the passes of 
Cuddavilli and Garawaddi, which led into the interior of his domi- 
nions, still more impenetrable than they had been formed by nature. 
To divert the perpetual attacks of the Ceylonese, and to give 
themselves an opportunity to continue their encroachments, the 
Portuguese began to foment internal dissensions among the na- 
tives. The King, who was a weak, irresolute prince, and much 
attached to his religious habits, found himself totally unable 
to cope with the policy and disciplined bravery of the Portu- 
guese. The latter therefore gradually extended their possess- 
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