Capture of Columbo by the British. 113 
afford so much comfort to the traveller, presented so many 
bars to the march of an army, and opportunities to annoy it. 
-/For twenty miles the road may be considered as one continued 
defile, capable of being easily defended against a much superior 
force. It .was intersected by two broad, deep, and rapid rivers, 
and several smaller ones, besides ravines whose bridges had been 
broken down. Each side of the path through which our army 
marched was covered with thick woods and jungle, from whence 
the enemy had an opportunity of destroying their adversaries 
without even being seen themselves. In such a situation gene^ 
ral Stewart every moment expected an attack, and was ex- 
ceedingly surprised, as were all the officers, at being suffered 
to pass through such a strong and difficult country without the 
smallest opposition. Nothing can give a more striking idea of 
the degraded state to which the Dutch military establishments 
at' Ceylon were reduced, than their suffering an enemy to ad- 
vance unmolested in such circumstances. Neither want of skill 
or prudence on the part of the officers, nor want of discipline 
on that of the soldiers, could have produced such disgrace- 
ful effects. It is only to the total extinction of public spirit, of 
every sentiment of national honour, that such conduct can be 
attributed. A thirst of gain and of private emolument appears 
to have swallowed up every other feeling in the breasts of the 
Dutchmen ; and this is a striking warning to all commercial na- 
tions to be careful that those sentiments, which engage them to 
extend their dominions, do not obliterate those by which alone 
they can be retained and defended. 
If their unmolested march seemed unaccountable, the cir- 
cumstances which followed still more surprised our British 
soldiers. The first obstacle which opposed itself to general 
Q 
