PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
TEC.O. 882
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
106
Government Agent of the north-west province,
Mr. Caulfield, wrote to the Governor to say that a fresh assault upon the town was immediately apprehended.
Somewhat later, Mr. Hanna, the police magis- trate of Kandy, wrote to report that similar ap prehensions were entertained, that the insurgents were collecting in Doombera to make an effort to enter Kandy.
These reports were received from time to time, so long as the Pretender was at large, and on the day of his capture, 21st September, two months after the actions at Matelle and Kornegulle, he in- formed Captain Watson that that very night, had he not been taken, he was on the point of passing over into Doombera, where the people were wait- ing for him to make a fresh attempt to gain pos- session of Kandy.
Colonel Drought's statement. (Page 12)
The vast majority of the chiefs and petty head- men charged with treason were still at large, and actively engaged in the attempt to arouse other districts, in the hope of retrieving their lost ground. Captain Watson had information that for a con- siderable time after his discomfiture at Kornegalle, the followers of the Pretender were in consider- able force in the vicinity of Lugalla, assembling in thousands by night, and lighting up the hills around Matelle by their signal fires. In the re- moter districts the danger was equally imminent. Mr. Mitford has described the continued state of excitement and apprehension throughout the im- portant district of Saffragam, which not only con- tinued throughout the entire period that martial law was in force elsewhere, but he says, "it did not subside before the end of the year, the escaped rebels from the scene of the insurrection being known to be labouring in the remote jungle and endeavouring, though unsuccessfully, to persuade the people to rise in favour of their cause." (Page 220.)
""
The Pretender, too, continued to assert his title, and to exercise his regal functions, and in the courts- martial held at Matelle documents were produced signed by him long after his flight, in which he con- tinued to appoint officers and issue commissions to
107
his followers as chiefs and Ratamahameyas. His emissaries, were also dispersed over Bintenne and Welasse, and threatening Badullah and Qovah with commotion. Mr. Mackenzie, the Assistant Govern- ment Agent, wrote to report this, and to ask for troops to repress the attempt and restore public confidence; and his own statement represents that "part of the province the utmost terror prevailed universally from the apprehension of universal insar- rection." (Page 76.)
To have wavered at such a moment, or to have recalled the proclamation of martial law before the Pretender was pecured and his known adherents under arrest, would have been the signal for an instant and simultaneous revolt throughout the Kandyan districts. It would have been mistaken by the disaffected for weakness rather than regarded
as confidence on our part, and they would have improved the opportunity accordingly.*
Mr. C. Stewart, the Deputy Queen's Advocate, at Kandy, draws the distinction between the simple proofs of danger which rendered the proclamation of martial law necessary, and therefore legal, and these unseen considerations of state policy which justify its continuance. The rebels it is true had cessed to meet the Queen's troops in the open field. but they were still out in great numbers in the country. The Pretender, calling himself their rightful King was abroad; the spirit of rebellion was still active, and no one can doubt that active measures were still necessary. (Page 59.)
“Too soon, to have removed martial law would have rendered another rising probable. The Pre- tender would but too speedily have heard that the ordinary, course of law was resumed, and he would gladly have hailed the change as affording him another opportunity to collect his scattered forces for a racesred attempt, and the people mortified with their lossen would not require much persuasion to join him." (Page 61.)
* The abandonment of the constitutional forma presented by, the law of the land is doubtlem to be only permitted in extreme cases—but even in the > of cincHIMAİNṣogn showing the existence of present nocemity for such a departure, if great
• Thin, if I rusolleet right, is a diction of Mr. Hallom. ? F