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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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dulla, upon this proceeded with a small party of military to apprehend the murderers. He found the pretender surrounded by large bodies of Vedahs (a migratory race supposed to be the aborigines of Ceylon), and while attempting to parley with them fell, shot through by their arrows. His party however made good their retreat to Badulla.
The insurrection now spread to the neighbour- ing district of Walapane, but troops having been ordered up from Colombo and Trincomalee, a force under Major McDonald penetrated, with the loss of but one private killed and a few wounded (among whom was Major M. himself), to the head-quarters of the insurgents in Wel- lassee, and there burned the extensive buildings erected for the pretender as well as the surround- ing houses, and carried off or destroyed all the cattle, grain, &c., in the neighbouring country.
These measures appeared to have the desired effect; the inhabitants were terrified, num- bers came in to submit themselves, and with the exception of the Governor, all thought the insurrection at an end. The cause of Sir R. Brownrigg's difference of opinion was the capture of the Dessave or principal chief of Ouvah with his headman by the rebels, under circumstances which led to the suspicion that it had been planned by the Dessave himself for the purpose of saving appearances in the eyes of the British Government. Suspicion also attached to other chiefs, and even to Eyheylepola, the brother-in- law of the Dessave, who had been one of our firmest allies in the war of 1815; but such, ac- cording to Sir R. Brownrigg, was the treachery of the natives, that it was impossible to place confi- dence in any of them.
The mode of warfare adopted by the natives was exceedingly fatiguing to the troops, as it was impossible to bring on an engagement; but giving ground wherever the military appeared, they harrassed them continually by means of ambuscades and attacks on the convoys of stores and provisions.
The only way by which any impression could be made on such an enemy was by burning their
lages and laying waste their paddy fields;
1818.
259. Jan. 30.
267. Feb. 19.
269.
251. Nov. 27.
Feb. 28.
278. April 12.
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especially as the guerilla tactics of the natives were greatly favoured by the want of roads; for the paths by which the stores for the had
army
to be conveyed, were frequently impassable even for bullocks, and the requisite supplies therefore could be transported only on the backs of coolies.
On the defection of the Dessave of Ouvah, the rebellion spread into that province as the Governor had expected, and martial law was at the end of September proclaimed throughout the disturbed provinces.
On January 1, 1818, the Governor issued a proclamation confiscating the lands of the rebels, and announcing the intention of Government to reward those who assisted the troops, out of these lands. Notwithstanding this proclamation, and the defeat of the natives whenever they could be induced to await an attack, the insur- rection continued to spread, and in February it had reached the districts, of Hewahette and Doombera, where the rebels were joined by Madugalle, who, as before mentioned, had been convicted of treasonable practices in 1816, but whose sentence of imprisonment had been after- wards remitted.
At this time Sir R. Brownrigg.made an application to the Government of India for assistance to the extent of 2000 troops and 4000 coolies; these last, as was mentioned before, were to be employed in the conveyance of stores, the roads being impassable for bullocks.
Up to this time no chiefs of note, with the exception of the Dessave of Ouvah and Madu- galle, had openly taken up arms, but on the other - hand, none could be relied upon not to do so; and accordingly it became necessary in February to proclaim martial law throughout the whole of the Kandian provinces; and in April Sir R. Brown- rigg writes that Mollegodde, the First Adegar, or Prime Minister, was the only chief of distinction who remained faithful, and that this fidelity was only to be attributed to the feud between him and Eyheylepola.
This last-mentioned chief was, on well-grounded suspicion of treason, seized suddenly on the 2nd March, and conveyed to Colombo, where however