THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
11 
be expected, received this proposal with the utmost joy: 
“ Tell your countrymen,” said he, “ that if they will only he 
willing to build a fort in this island, myself, my wife, and my 
children, will be the first to supply them with the necessary 
materials.” The Dutch were not long of availing themselves 
of the advantages which this alliance presented to them. In 
16'32, they sent a strong armament to act, in concert with 
the native prince, against the Portuguese. A violent and bloody 
struggle ensued : the Portuguese seemed to recover a portion of 
their ancient spirit, and appeared determined to dispute to the 
last the possession of a country, which had been so easily 
conquered by their more warlike ancestors. They were, how- 
ever, overmatched by the resources and the policy of the 
Dutch. These persevering and prudent republicans were 
careful to assist their commanders with continual re-iuforce- 
ments, while the Portuguese government in Europe, feebly 
trusting to the renown of former exploits, left their valuable 
colonies to their own unassisted efforts. The consequences were 
inevitable. The Portuguese of Ceylon had no internal resources 
to trust to. Their commerce was entirely cut off by the fleets of 
the Dutch: their cruelties had exasperated the natives to such a 
degree, that it was impossible ever again to conciliate their 
minds : and this antipathy, joined to the fair promises of the 
Dutch, and the hopes of a speedy deliverance, had awakened 
such a spirit among the Ceylonese, that they in their turn 
attacked their former tyrants even in their own possession^ 
