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PUBLIC
RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Fifth Rebellion, 1843.
The result was, that before six years had elapsed, a fresh conspiracy was organized with the same objects; and in 1848, thirteen prisoners were tried for high treason at Badulla. One was convicted on his own confession of a conspiracy to levy war against the Queen, and to restore a native sove- reignty in Kandy.
The others were acquitted, and amongst those thus acquitted, was the very individual, Dennis, who acted the part of King in the recent insurrec. tion, and is now expiating his offence by trans- portation, under sentence of the Supreme Court. Another of the ringleaders was Dingoralle, the other pretender of 1848, who was seized and shot at Kornegalle. [See Loko Bawda's letter, Ap. Mr. Buller's Letter, 4th Nov. 1849, p. 117.]
This chain of events extending over thirty-five years, showing a continuity of causes and motives, operating without intermission, exhibiting them- selves in hostile action on six successiva occasions at brief intervals, coupled with the fact of an un- broken series of the same agents, the rebel of 1818 being again the Pretender of 1823, and the ring- leaders of 1843, two of the Pretenders of 1848, sorve in my opinion to demonstrate the endemic and topical character of this political derangement, and Trove its development in 1848 to be but a fresh manifestation of the same disorder of the system, which was discernible on all the former occasions.
And it exhibits incontestably the folly of describ- ing the revolt of 1848, characterized by all the gravost features of treason and rebellion, no
ere riot get up by some low country marauders, acting not from political disaffection, but from the lust for robbery and plunder.
The points of identity are as striking between the rebellion of 1848 and that of 1849 as between it and that of 1894, and the immediate connexion between them is equally apparont.
In that instance (1843) as in this, the Govern- ment, conseŝons of the hemodiu which our con- nexion had conferred on the Kandysna, was re- luctant to eredit the reports of the local officers an to the immmence of the danger, and from what I
Major Kelion's Letter, Rebellion
1848.
CHANDRAYOTTY, THE PazTEN-
DER, 1843.
23
have learned of the actual facts which transpired at the time and subsequently, there can be no doubt that the evil was much more serious than might be inferred from the tone of the despatches to the Secretary of State.
The actual movement at that time was confined to the south-east of the Kandyan provinces, but the testimony of those arrested and convicted showed that it had extensive ramifications.
I beg to put in a letter from the officer who was in charge of the district in which the conspiracy arose and was discovered, Major Kelson, of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, a gentleman who has spent most of his life amongst the Kandyans, and whose judgment in relation to these matters is entitled to great consideration.
Major Kelson found the disaffection to the British Government extreme after the abolition of Rajakaria in 1834.
In 1842, a priest named Chandrayotty, gave much trouble to the Government by agitating treason, in the districts east of Kandy, Bintenne, Wallapane, and Welasse. Information was received through Molligodde the late Adigar, that a rising was threatened, and in consequence the parties were watched and Chandrayotty arrested: proofs were, however, insufficient to put him on trial, and he was discharged.--(See Power's Letter, Appendix p. 115.)
In 1843 this same individual announced himself openly in Wallepane as a claimant for the throne.
He was joined by the priests and all the chiefs,
at whose houses the people were introduced to his presence with regal forms, he receiving them behind a white curtain, and they prostrating themselves in homage in front of it.
The plan was to attack Neurs. Filia and the adjacent part of Badulla, and seize the English residents.
Major Kelson, who was the Assistant Govern- ment Agent at Neura Ellia, communicated with Mr. Buller, who he found was equally informed of these proceedings, and participated in his views and apprehension of thema.
But Mr. Anstruther, the Colonial Secretary, discouraged every representation, and rejected the idea of any conspiracy.