THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES CEYLON AND THE PORTUGUESE 1505 - 1658 BY P, E. PIERIS, LITT. D. (Otutab) Ceylon Civil Service, i,6tXfiTXD B7 a. B. NAISri. B. X. (Oioa.) Ceylon Civil Service. AMtMICAN CEYLON MISSION ^RCSS. TELLIPPALAI. CtYLON 1920 DS 1^41 <i^ DEDICATION Dear Lady Blake, I have written this book in the hope that it will awaken in those of your fellow country- men and fellow countrywomen whose hands it may chance to reach, an interest in Ceylon and a desire to understand her people. In that respect you and Sir Henry have set a shining example, and in grate- ful recognition I venture respectfully to dedicate this work to you» Yours sincerely, Kandy, 3rd June. 1920. P» E. PIERIS, "Son of nmn, stand upon thy feet." PREFACE The period of the history cf Ceylon which is covered by the present work has been already dealt with by me in another book which, inasmuch as it was addressed primarily to the people of that country, assumed in the reader a degres of knowledge which no one who has not resided there for many years can have, and was hurdemed with a minuteness of detail which, however novel and interesting to the local student, cannot but weary, if not repel, the general reader„ And yet the story of the Portuguese in Ceylon is of more than local interest, for it depicts for us a characteristic phase of the beginning of European expansion in the East. A hundred and fifty three years after the Portuguese first landed in Ceylon they were expelled from the country, leaving the gloomy word Failure writ large over all their actions. That however was not all, for they left the Sinhalese a broken race, with their ancient civilisation brought to the verge of ruin, and their scheme of life well-nigh destroyed^ In 1796 the British flag was unfurled over the country ; and though perhaps the old romance of life has gone, never again to return, a material pros- perity and a personal security such as have not been known before have grown up under its protectionc It is difficult for the West to understand the East, and for that reason this book has been re-written for the EngHsh reader as some contribution to the increase of that knowledge. For the matter contained therein I am solely responsible ; any credit which may be considered due for the manner in which that material is presented to the reader, should be ascribed to Mr. Naish, for whose incisive and illumin- ating criticism I cannot too deeply express my gratitude. A complete Bibliographical List will be- found in the first Volume of 'C^yioii, the Portuguese. ^""^•^ p. E. P. CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS CHAPTER I The Ramayana story. Arrival of Wijayo. The Kingdom of the Fandiyans. The conservation of water. Sinhalese tanks. Introduction of Buddhism. The Bo tree. Dagobas. Pchtical divisions of the Island. Elara. Duttha Gamani. Anuradhapura. Walagamba. The Tri Pitakas. Embassy to Rome. The Waituiya heresy. Siri SangaBo. The Danta Dhatu. Buccha Gcsha. The Mehcwansa. Moggalana. Polonnaruwa. The Pandiyan invasion. The Choliyans. Wijaya Bahu. His reforms. Parakrarna Bahu. His training. The gems of Ceylon. Victories of Parakrama Bahu. His reforms. J'oreign expeditions. The Kalinga invasion. Pardita Parakrama Bahu. Jafanapatam. Jayawardhana Kotte. The Kanda Uda Rata, CHAPTER II Portugal. Francisco de Almeida, Arrival of the Portuguese in Ceylon. Kolon Tota. The Portuguese at Kotte. Description of Kotte. The Sinhalese. Their mode of life. King Dharma Parakrama Bahu. Treaty with the Portuguese. Cinnamon. Elep= hant3. The Portuguese padrao. The position of the Portuguese. Their Factory abandoned. Affonco de Alboquerque. The new- policy. The M jors. Opposition to ths Portug jes3. Peace restored. The Pearl fishery. Method of fishing. Accession of Wijaya Bahu. The fort of Colombo, The Sinhalese army. Land tenure. Siege of the fort. Peace. CHAPTER III Sinhalese marriages. Polygamy and Polyandry, Deva Raja Sinha. Death of Wijaya Bahu. The King's investiture. The lucky hour. The Minister lUangakon. The fort abandoned. The Samorin of Calicut. Mayadunna and the Moors. Battle of Rameswaram, Samudra Devi. The Turks at Diu Arrival of Miguel Ferreira. Expedition ajaiast Miyadaina. Peaca restored. Dharmapala selected as hair to the Throna. His coronation in effigy. A Portuguese Alvara. Arrangements with the Portuguese. The King's family. against Jaffna. Expedition Changes in Earopa. The Franciscans. St. Fra.i:i3 Xavisr. Tna Mimr miisacre. Djm Joao de Castro. The King of Portugal and conversion. CHAPTER rV Methods of conversion. Antonio Moniz Barretto. Mayadunna'a dip'omacy. Barretto as missionary. The Viceroy in Ceylon. Murder of Bhuwaneka Bahu. Misrule of the Pcituguese. Changes in Portugal The Viceroy as robber. Sitawaka occupied. The Portuguese Colombo at Kotte. Sembahap Peruiral. Buddhism and tolerance. Mudu* rebuilt. Arrest of Widiye Bandara. Leeches. Raja Sinha. kondapola. Death of Widiye Bandara. Conversion of Sembahap Perumal. Removal of the Danta Dhatu. Conversion in Ceylon. Dharmapala baptised. Effects of his conversion. Buddhism in Ceylon. Education. Felly of Dharmapala. CHAPTER V Mayadunna as nationalist leader. Battle of MuUeriyawa. Hostilities. Kotte besieged. Dha-mapala at Colonibo. Diogo de Melo. Munnessaram Temple. Poisoning of Dharmapala. Abdication of Mayadunna. Dom Sebastiao. Colombo besieged. The donation of Dharmapala. The Uda Rata invaded. Dharmapala's successor nommated. War preparations. Raja Sinha and the Priesthood. The Sri Pada. Alagiyawanna Mukawetti. Sinhalese Literature. Sri Rahula. The Sevul Sandesaya and Raja Sinha's Court The Sinhalese army. CHAPTER VI Preparations at Colombo. The siege begun. An assault. Sin- halese tactics. Mining. A naval engagement. Plague. Another assault. A raiding expedition. Destruction of Devundara. The siege raised. The Portuguese at Senkadigala. Revolt of the Udu Rata. Death of Raja Sinha. Aritta Kivendu Perumal. Sitawaka occupied Change in Portuguese policy. Its effects. Condition of Portugal. Portuguese abuses. CHAPTER VII De Sousa in Ceylon. Senkadagala occupied. The VeddahSc Proposed m.arnage of Dcna Catherina. Death of Jayawira. The Portuguese withdrawal. Their defeat. Reprisals. Effect of the defeat. Dom. Jeronymo de Azavedo. Ediril'e Rala. Intermarriage. Sinhalese rewards of merit. Honorific names. Revolt of Edirille Rala. Retreat of the Pcrtuguese. The pursuit. The rebels repulsed. Capture of Edirille Rala. Triimph of Sam arakon Rala. Death of the rebel. Dharmapala and the Portuguese. His appeal to King Philip. Dishonesty of the Portuguese. Death of Dharmapala, CHAPTER VIII The Convention of Malwana. The successor of Dharmapala. The political divisions. Portuguese policy. The Buddhist revival. Simao Correa and Simao Pinhao. Hostilities. Cruelty of de Azavedo. The Rhodiyas. The Portuguese advance. Plot againss the King. Balane Fort. Failure ot the plot. Spain and the Hollan- ders. Van Spilbergen at Court. Sinhalese ideas on eating. A banquet at the palace. European sympathies of the King. Sinha- lese music. Dancing and singing. Seebald de Weert at Court. CHAPTER IX The Portuguese at Balane. View from Balane. The Great Re- treat. Samarakon and the Crown. Mahvana sacked. The Portu- guese failure. Return of de Weert. Drunkenness. The betel leaf. Death of de Weert. Negociations with the King. Samarakon ban- ished. Death of Wimala Dharma. His cremation. Attitude of King Philip. Misgovemment of the Portuguese. De Azavedo's policy. Salt. Portuguese preparations. Arrival of the Jesuits. The Viceroy and the Hollanders. The condition of the Portuguese. The right of Sanctuary'. King Senerat. Marcellus de Boschouwer at Court. CHAPTER X Anlao Vaz Ferreira. Alagiyawanna Mukawetti. The Tombo. Loss of title deeds. The Franciscans and their claims. Distribu- tion of the villages. Nindagama tenure. Caste among the Sinha- lese. Korale Vidahes. Crown dues. Ceylon artisans. The Cinnamon revenue. Elephants and pearls. The gem lands. Arecanut. Maralas. Minor taxes. The system of punishments. Slavery. Presents CHAPTER XI Dom Francisco de Meneses Roxo. Condition of the Portuguese. King Senerat. Manuel Mascarenhas Homem and his instructions. The sale of offices. Portuguese methods of warfare. The coconut palm. Sinhalese military tactics. A comet. Departure of Ferreira. A pretender. Anuradha Pura. Nikapitiya Bandara. Battle of Gan- dolaha. The pretender crowned as Emperor. He retires. Balane captured by Senerat The troubles of the Portuguese. The New Year. Nikapitiya withdraws Northwards. Portuguese demoralised. Treaty of 1617. End of de Azavedo. Arrival of Constantino de Sa. His reforms. Defeat of Baretto. Atrocities of Teixeira. Death of Baretto. Gratitude to de Sa. CHAPTER XII Jorge de Alboquerque as General. He is succeeded by de Sa. Trincomalee occupied. Further reforms of de Sa. He expels the Moors. And erects a fort at Batticaloa. Birth of the future Raja Sinha. He becomes Aga Raja. The campaign of 1629, Ill- ness of de Sa. Conspiracy against him. Invasion of Uwa. De- teat and death of de Sa. Colomlx) besieged. The Sinhalese with draw. Dom Jorge de Almeida as General. Treaty of 1633. The condition of Portugal. Financial Chaos. Death of Senerat. Raja Sinha and the Hollanders. Diogo de Melo and the Court. Hosti- lities recommence. The Parangi Hatane. Battle of Gannoruwa. The King's thank-offering. CHAPTER XII! Capture of Batticaloa. Treaty of Batticaloa. The policy of the Hollanders. Quarrel between the King and Wijaya Pala. Capture of Negombo. Sinhalese medicine. The fort of Galle. The assault. Division of the spoil. The Portuguese in consternation. Coster at Court. The King's reply. Death of Coster. Desertion at Galle. The Portuguese dominion threatened. Joao de Ribeiro. Negumbo retaken. Revolt of Wijaya Pala. The Prince at Colombo. He leaves Ceylon. The obsequiousness of the Hollanders. Hostilities. The approach of peace. Negumbo occupied by the Hollanders. Declaration of peace. CHAPTER XIV Adrian van der Stel. Capture of Pannara. The Hollanders non plussed. Their policy. Raja Sinha m peace time. His fondness for animals. European m.usic. His views on inter-marriage. The King as God. The Portuguese administration.