PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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to the Assistant Agent at the one place, and to Government Agent at the other, to arrest him, if possible, but to do so as a vagrant, and to avoid giving him
any political consequence by the appear- ance of attaching any importance to his pranks.
Recent events however have proved that his proceedings were of a much more serious nature than we were desirous to believe. That he visited every district, even the remotest, of Kandy; but not the low country, with which he had no connexion. That he found a home in every temple and pansila, and agents universally in the priests, and that his communications and confidence with the chiefs was so extensive and so intimate, that in his confession on his capture, after attempting to enumerate those by whom he was supported, he desisted with the pithy remark that it would be casier to enumerate the the few who had withheld their co-operation.
Mr. Dunewelle says of the Pretender's proceed- ings at this time, "he and his younger brother
years
in have been busy for the last five or six fomenting disaffection amongst the Kandyan people who lie far away from towns; and the recent transactions in France and all over Europe must have been represented to the poorer classes so as to have induced a belief that it was right to enlist themselves on behalf of the Pretender and his bro- ther."-(Enclo. No. 3, page 254.j
It should likewise be stated that during the pro- gress of the insurrection the people spoke confi- dently of their obtaining assistance from the French, a proof that their objects were of a political nature, such as they had been taught to believe the French would sympathize in and support.-(Sec Appendix, No. 1, to Mr. Buller's letter, 6th Decem- ber, 1849.)
Although not "organized” in the sense in which we use that term, implying disciplined or trained, the mass of the people were not the less prepared, not only in disposition and excitement, but as regards the arrangements for insurrection and tumult. The Government ascertained that for three years previously they had been storing up rice against such an event; they had provided themselves with gunpowder, both native and European (as shown by the returns. See Mr. Buller's letters), and one peculiar but invariable symptom of disturb..
Secresy accounted for.
!
Events which precipitated the out- break.
Indian War on the Sutledge.
French Revolution.
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The Press.
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ance was universal, the purchase of salt in large quantities, an article they never store in peaceful times, but of which it is necessary to have an extra supply when hutted or concealed in the jungle.— (Captain Watson.)
All this, too, was carried on with profound se- cresy, from two causes :——
1st. Because the Kandyans have a horror of any one who would prove an informer to the Govern. ment in any matter connected with the people, or their supposed interests, and generally retaliate on such by burning their houses; and
2ndly, and chiefly, Because in ordinary times the chiefs and head men are our medium of communi- cation with the people, and our only source of dis- covering what is passing in the country, but being themselves the conspirators in this instance, it was idle to expect them at the same time to act as informers.
Several events occurred in 1848 which simulta- neously contributed to precipitate the intended movement.
1st. The intelligence of our military embarrass- ments in the north-west of India reached Ceylon, coupled with much exaggeration and disastrous foreboding.
2nd. This was followed by the astounding intel- ligence of the rapidly succeeding revolutions on the continent of Europe, and the anticipation of similar movements in Great Britain; and of these a dangerous and most improper use was made by the local press, which was loud in its rejoicings on the overthrow of monarchy, and the extension of republicanism (see Mr. Staples' letter, page 18), and the attention of the Singhalese was invited to what had been achieved by the people elsewhere, with direct allusion to the fitness for self-govern- ment of the people of Ceylon, on an equality with Indians who had obtained a representative franchise from the French in their colonies and settlements on the coast of India. (Blue Book, page 153.)
In the seditious petition from the Borelle meet- ing, the petitioners alluded to the example of France, and said they had been told that the Ta. mils (at Pondicherry) would not submit to such taxes. (Blue Book, page 157.)
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