115 
hy the British. 
cessary. It was of this last circumstance that the Dutch took 
advantage to excuse their pusillanimous conduct in abandoning 
such an excellent position. They said they were afraid of 
troops being landed from the ships between them and the fort 
of Columbo, and thus cutting off their retreat. But those 
who are acquainted with the situation of the country will 
look upon this as a very poor palliation of their cowardice ; 
as even supposing we had attempted to land troops between 
them and the fort, a secure retreat was opened to them by 
the thick wood on the left, through which, from our not 
knowing the ground, it would have been dangerous and im- / 
proper for us to pursue them. 
IVhilst our troops lay here, the Dutch sent out from Co- 
lumbo a large party of Malays under the command of co- 
lonel Raymond, a Frenchman, to attack us, which they did 
rather unexpectedly in the morning about day break. Our 
troops however, particularly our flank companies under colo- 
nel Barbut, gave them such a warm reception, that they 
soon retired very precipitately and with great loss ; their 
brave commander was mortally wounded, and died a few 
days after. The loss on our part was not material ; and this 
was the last and only attempt made by tlie enemy to op- 
pose us. 
Our army was now come to Columbo, the capital of the 
Dutch dominions in Ceylon, large, fortified, and capable of 
a vigorous defence ; and here they seemed to have concentrat- 
ed their resistance. On our appearing before it, however, a 
capitulation was immediately proposed, and in a few days after 
this important place was surrendered into our hands. To 
examine the causes which led to this unexpected conduct 
I 
