PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TIC.O. 882
سسسس
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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our mode of entering their temples, and in our manner of treating their priests, who require respect almost amounting to adoration.*
"Accustomed to the presence of a king in their capital, to the splendour of his court, and to its complicated arrangements, they could ill relish the sudden and total abolition of the whole system. The King of Great Britain was to them a mere name—they had no notion of a king ruling over them at a distance of thousands of miles; they wanted a king whom they could see, and before whom they could prostrate and obtain" bummary justice. These were a few, and a few only of the leading circumstances which tended to render the natives averse from us and our government, and anxious to throw it off; and though angräteful, it was not unnatural on their part." a 5%
Marshall, who was in Ceylon at the same time with Davy, and who has described 'the same events, says:
"The Kandyans used to inquire when the English From Marshall's Ceylon, p. 175. intended to return to the maritime provinces. 'You
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have now,' said one, deposed the King, and nothing more is required. You may leave us.' The people showed no dislike to us individually, but as a nation they abhorred us.They seemed to entertain a superstitious notion, that the English could not live in the Kandyan teritory: They made no complaint of oppression är misrule, con- tenting themselves with expressing a wish that we should leave the country. Converting on this kübject, ä subordinate chief olkerved; "that the British rule in the Kandyan country was as in- compatible, as yòking a buffalo 'ind etw in the sázó plough.””.
It must not be forgotten that this very genera- tion has not yet passed away; that there are many now living who have witnessed the rebellion of 1817, and were cognizant of the 'mihy` ketempta that have been made fidos, and this'kaodents for many points of similarity""which" chameterise and identify each 'as parta" of the suitaineď hand con- tinuous Brlovenként. “For ̈ efâdplé, It has been questioned whether" [here wad may systematic or- ganization"prévious to thế reballing of last year,
སི་
والنار .
• This explains the stipulation in the proclamation of 1818, by which Sir R. Brownrigg garrantned that thé Boðilhist priest- hood should be “respected.”
From Marshall's Ceylon, p. 179.
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but this very same remark has been made, and most pertinently explained in relation to the re- bellion of 1817.
Marshall says of it: When the insurrection broke out, there is every reason to believe that no organized conspiracy against the English existed among my class of the inhabitants of the Kandyan country; but uniformity of feeling supplied the place of organization; they all wished to be quit of us. That the establishment of the British power over that of the Kandyan chiefs of all grades, from the highest to the lowest, would be very impalatable and galling, was quite obvious to any one acquainted with the habits and feelings of the people. The chiefs and higher classes of the Kandyans generally, were greatly offended at what we called the impartial administration of justice. Thereby the privileges and civil distinctions of caste had been practically extinguished. But however strong thin feeling of hostility was through- out the country, it was not mufficiently intense to subdue the jealomy of the chiefs towards each other. In short the outbreak of the rebellion in Welase was purely nocidental, and the ebriefs and people of the other provinces were as much taken by surprise as the English Authorities.”
Buch being the feelings of the Kandyans, a spark falling on materials so combustible, was suffizient to kindle a general coufiagration. A plot to expel in was concocted so early as 1816 by Ilfagamme, a Buddhist priest, who was ar- rented, convicted, and buzished. The spirit of dis- alfzotion continued to increase, and a rebellion was the consequenos: it suhdenly and prematurely broke out in October, 1814, owing to an socidental circumstance, and exhibited therefore no previous coulbination or system.
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utanen ifluded to was the gudde houdman in a remote rowo nad murdered fovernment to bring
signal for a
in that and
in arms