THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
gi 
to carry over the army, which was speedily effected on rafts 
of bamboe, and a few boats from our ships lying at anchor 
off the mouth of the river. Our troops then encamped in a 
large grove of cocoa-nut trees, with a Malay village in front. 
The position was very advantageous, as the river, from its 
winding course, protected our right flank and rear, while the 
left was skirted by a very thick wood or jungle, which ex- 
tended nearly to the Black Town of Columbo. Our ships, 
which lay at no great distance, were ready to furnish the 
army with every thing necessary. It was of this last cir- 
cumstance that the Dutch took advantage to excuse their 
pusillanimous conduct in abandoning such an excellent posi- 
tion. 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 improper for us to pursue them. 
Whilst our troops lay here, the Dutch sent out from Co- 
lumbo a large party of Malays under the command of 
Colonel 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 
Colonel Barbut, gave them such a warm reception, that they 
