PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
THEC.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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"For five years, since I came to Kandy in 1843, this man had continually threatened disturbances, and the police had been as often directed to appre- hend him, but in spite of every effort he had always been effectually screened by natives, and I firmly. believe that if he had not been arrested by martial law he would be at liberty up to this time. As the civil authorities themselves were powerless to arrest this man before he was a proclaimed King; I cannot suppose that they could effect it after he had received homage as sovereign, had sacked two populous towns, and come to be looked on as a conqueror and a hero.-(Page 30.)
Another important fact it is essential to bear in mind. Circumstances had rendered it necessary not only to suppress the insurrection bnt suppress it with the utmost attainable rapidity; it took place not only in the midst of the coffee districts, but at the very moment when an unusual crop was on the trees and almost ripe for the harvest. The annual immigration of the Malabar Coolies had just commenced-thousands of them were on their way from the coast, and to get to the interior, their way lay through the very scene of the rebel- lion.
The crop then about to be picked exceeded 38,000,000 lbs., being more than the annnal con- sumption of Great Britain. It was valued at nearly £700,000, and every pound of this crop was on the verge of destruction by the plunder of the estates and, the wanton destruction of the ma- ⚫chinery.
But its danger did not arise from the Kandyana and rebels alone; but from the well-grounded apprehension that were the disturbances to con- tinue for a few weeks longer the Malabar Coolies would have turned back, as they undoubtedly would, and left the coffee crop to rot upon the trees.
So fully was this anticipated that the first arrival of the intelligence of the insurrection at Colombo, Mr. Elliot, the editor of the “Observer,” told Major Park, himself a large coffee proprietor, that of the crop then, growing mot a single posad would be pulled.
Had not the fulfilment of that prediction been arrested by Lord Torrington, the ruin that must have followed it is imposdble to calculate. It is
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not to be estimated by the mere value of the coffee actually destroyed; advances had been made by agents and bankers on the security of it; the estates had been mortgaged for sums which that crop was designed to pay, and failure would have been entailed not merely by the loss of a single year's produce, but by the confusion and disap- pointment and destruction of credit which must have followed.
All this I firmly believe was avoided and ar- rested by Lord Torrington's decision and firmness
in proclaiming martial law.
Had the insurrection spread even to the estates within the disturbed districts, the Government had not the power to protect them. This the Major- General had already communicated to the Com- mander-in-Chief.
These estates lie not contiguous, but scattered over the mountains with miles intervening.
As it was, we had not troops sufficient to supply the demands of the exigency; and much less could they have been detached in scattered parties
to protect the outlying coffee districts.
We had applications from the planters, to send parties to numerous districts, but with every in- clination we found it impracticable to comply; and only one was sent to Punilawa, a central point, whence assistance might be extended in other direc- tions, should the coffee estates be attacked by the Kandyanı.
It has been stated erroneously, that the troops
at Matelle and Kornegalle "put down the insur- rection;" this is a mistake, a dozen such encounters would not have succeeded in putting it down. The rebels would have continued to disperse and re-unite, and would have renewed their attacks perseveringly, as they did at Kornegalle. Even as it was, Matelle was amailed a second time, after what is considered the decisive action at Warria. pole; and Kornegalle was attacked a second or third time with an interval of two or three days, from the first succemfal conflict of the Queen's troops. It was not the defeat by the military that put down the rebellion, where the rebels dared to ex- hibit themselves; but it was the paralysing effects of martial law which eventually prevented them from re-appearing, forming fresh combinations, and making fresh attempts upon the towns and out- stations.
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