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The Convention of 1815 having been annulled by the treason and rebellion of one of the Con- tracting Parties, its chief stipulations were volun- tarily renewed by a Proclamation which had the force of law in 1818, by which the laws, the reli- gion, the personal liberty and rights of property of the Kandyans were specifically secured.
To suppress the rebellion of 1818, cost upwards of a quarter of a million sterling; whilst the charge of suppressing that of 1848, did not exceed 10,000l., if it approached that sum.
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Second Rebellion, 1820.
The natural conclusion would, be that, after such a fearful catastrophe as the recent rebellion, fol- lowed by such healing measures, tranquillity at least, if not loyalty, would have been secured for a lengthened period in the Kandyan Kingdom.
But so far from this being the case, a fresh in- surrection was organized in 1820. A pretender appeared in Oova, who asserted his title to the Crown, and was supported in his pretensions by a large body of chiefs and priests.
Rewards were offered for his detection and apprehension, but that was ineffectual, as he was harboured by the people of Welasse, till at length martial law was proclaimed and he was surren- dered.
He was sentenced to death by court-martial, but the sentence was commuted to a milder punish- ment, and he was transported to Mauritius.
Third Rebellion, 1823.
In 1823 another rebellion was attempted in the Kandyan country at Neurakalawiya, but Colonel Fraser being despatched with a considerable force, succeeded in capturing the leader, who was made a scavenger, at Kandy. A simultaneous attempt took place at Matelle.
He had been one of the most active of the rebels in 1817, and fled from justice to excite fresh insurrection at Anarajahpoors, the sacred city, where the religion of Buddhu was first planted in Ceylon, and still the resort of pilgrims.
* In 1820 (July) another feeble attempt at insurrection took place at Matelle. The leader, who had escaped-after participating in the revolt of 1818, was taken, tried, and executed in October 1820.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE! BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Extracted from Colonel Forbes, Vol. I. p. 60.
15
Fourth Rebellion in 1834.
In 1833 the great and benevolent measure was carried into effect, for abolishing compulsory labour; and, singular as it may sound to European ears, this singular boon to the whole mass of the people, was followed almost immediately by a conspiracy of the chiefs, the organization of a fresh rebellion under circumstances, as detailed in the evidence taken on the trial of the conspirators, of a revolting atrocity.
Colonel Forbes, an officer of distinction, who has been a witness before this Committee, and has himself published a valuable work on Ceylon, was himself in the Kandyan country when this conspi- racy was discovered; and he has recorded his opinion of its origin and objects in the following passage.
"Soon after the beneficial and important changes consequent upon the abolition of compulsory labour and the introduction of the improved system of administering justice began to be felt, the chiefs, seeing that their tyrannical power and undue in- fluence were thereby abolished, conspired together, and contemplated along with some intriguing priests to overthrow the British power. The highest class did not perceive any immediate benefit to themselves from the new system of liberal policy, and were naturally jealous of the advantages con- ferred on the great body of the people, whom they had hitherto held in subjection; but this conspiracy showed how wise as well as humane was the stroke that had broken the rod of the oppressor, for it was by it that the chiefs were enabled to goad the people into .open rebellion against the British Government in 1817; now, in 1894, as not one of their former followers or present dependants would assist in again putting the yoke on their own necks, it was proposed to have recourse to deception, and rouse them during a religious festival by a false announcement, that the British Government had restored forced labour, and abolished the Buddhist religion." (The very announcement made a pretext of rebellion in 1848.)
At first the Government repudiated totally the idea of disloyalty at the very moment when they
* Bir . Brownrigg, in his Proclamation at the close of the rebellion of 1818, (cl. 6, p. 14) stains that, the people showed te the chiefs à band obedience and helpless dependione on their power, much as was due to sovereignty alone.