History OF HAMMENHIEL The strange serenity of the little water-fort, Hammenhiel, invests this memorable islet with a sense of departed heritage which is most striking. It stands on a rocky shoal at the entrance to Jaffna lagoon and its ramparts are lapped by the surf. The Portuguese named it Fortaleza do caes. In those days tumults, Hammanhiel served on the north just as Mannar fort did on south, to guard the passage by water to the Castle Fort at Jaffna. Accordingly, it was not permitted to remain long in Portuguese hands and was captured by the Dutch in March 1658, under Captains Cornelies Reb, Piester Waset and N. van de Reede, soon after the occupation of Mannar. The Portuguese had to surrender in the scarcity of water after their water tank was destroyed by Dutch attack. Its new owners named it Hammenhiel. The Hollander saw in the shape of Ceylon the resemblance of smoked ham. Since this picturesque water- fort was at the point where the shank bone projects, they gave it this strange name: Hammen-hiel (heel of the ham), and fortunately nobody has changed it. When the Dutch occupied this water- fort they found that the sand bank on which it was built had been undermined by the storms of the North-East monsoon. They remedied this by piling up a breakwater of stones. The Portuguese had built the ramparts hollow, and had roofed them with beams, which supported an upper floor of stone and chunam, in view of the space being utilized for storing provisions and ammunition. Since the beams were liable to decay, and the floor had to support the weight of the cannon without fear of insecure when the guns were moved about and turned round, the Dutch considered this a mistake and they replaced the roof by an entire stone vault. Finally proofing by the error of their predecessors, the Dutch took special pain to ensure a satisfactory water supply. On the Northern side of the fortress they built a reservoir, paved with “Dutch Bricks” to collect and preserve the rain water. This reservoir had however been built so high that it reached above the parapets and was, therefore, exposed to the fire and possible destruction by enemy attacks. The defect was pointed out by the time and subsequent inspections of the fortress, but since it was a recent work, it was allowed to remain until such time as alterations could be effected. It nevertheless stands as originally constructed and is still used to conserve a supply of clear fresh rain-water. A low vaulted gate-way not more than seven feet in height is the only entrance to this water fort. The living quarters consist of three or four rooms in the courtyard. The vaults under the ramparts were doubtless used as a store room. The Dutch invariably maintained a garrison of thirty men under the charge of a Lieutenant or Ensign on this spot, and the early Dutch Governers make very special mention in their memories that Hammenhiel must be carefully guarded “non but Dutch being stationed there”. Extracted from “Links Between Sri Lanka and Netherlands” by RL Brohier
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 13:38:42 +0000
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