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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

THITTIC.O. 882

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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The Government buildings were all destroyed by the rebels, and at Kornegulle in particular, it was impracticable to procure others and it is notorious, that without systematic care and per- petual vigilance, the ravages of the white ants alone would be sufficient in a few days to destroy not merely articles usually considered perishable, such as grain, but the more durable ones of furniture and cloth.

MEMORANDUM on the Statements made that "Pro- perty was unnecessarily sequestered and sold during and subsequent to the Insurrection of

-1848."

HAVING Leen employed at the Colonial Secretary's office, or as acting for the Government Agent at Putlam, I had nothing whatever to do with the se- questrations, except of the property of rebels con- victed by the Supreme Court, and the restoration to the owners of sequestered property, and proceeds from the sales of property that could not be kept in safety.

The last-named duty brought me into contact with all the claimants at the period when a general amnesty was understood to have been granted, and when the parties rather glossed over than attempted to conceal the part they had taken in the outbreak.

From information afforded by them; from the officers conducting the sequestrations; and from other sources, I arrived at the conclusion that, in the seven korles, sequestrations were made only of the property of those who had fled from justice, or of persons against whom there was prima facie evi- dence of guilt; and, consequently, where it was ex- pected that confiscation would follow conviction as a matter of course.

It appears to me that the officers entrusted with the duty of sequestering property acted with peculiar discretion; for, judging from the informations taken by Mr. Gibson, J.P. (the only informations that I have seen), from my own inquiries, and the admission before me by the parties themselves of participation more or less in the rebellion, I can unhesitatingly state that I believe there is but one individual in the list of owners of property sold, who was not implicated in the rebellion, and that that was an error arising from an unfortunate similarity of name-Malidenia Un- nanse baving been mistaken for Maligame Unnanse. Had the movable property not been sequestered, it would have been made away with by the gang of robbers who were at that time attracted to the dis- turbed districts by the disorganised state of the country.

There is no doubt but that much property was stolen from houses abandoned by the owners, before the arrival of the military parties sent out to sequester, and the most valuable portion was secreted by the owners themselves.

What was found, therefore, was of little or no value, except cattle, or paddy in the granaries.

Looking at the description of the property brought to Kornegulla under sequestration, it is clear that the authorities had no means of keeping it in safety,

The public buildings had been sacked and partially destroyed during the insurrection; there was no pos- sibility of effecting sufficient repairs to adapt them to ordinary purposes, and during the disturbances, they had to be converted into barracks.

On my return to Kornegulla, at the end of October, after a large portion of the troops had been with drawn, I found the iron chest containing the public money, and some boxes full of copper and of stamps, in a small room of the court-house, also occupied as a guard-room.

There were likewise in it two or three chesta, and a few articles of sequestered property which had not been sold, and some Government tools. The room was in such a crowded state, that I was put to the greatest inconvenience in counting out money or stampe, for want of space for a table or chair to stand in.

The doors of the treasury and cutcherry had not at that time been repaired, and there was in fact no

lock-up place in any of the public buildings; so that before the recal of Major Layard's party and the detachment of the 37th regiment, there could have been no means of keeping the sequestered property separate, if even there was room for it at all under shelter.

As for clothes, they would not have been safe for a day, unless carefully guarded against the depreda- tions of white ants, which at Kornegulla are so destructive, that the only way it has been found pos- sible to preserve the Cutcherry records, is by having a sheet of zine for each almirah to stand on.

The cost of keeping cattle at such an extraordinary conjuncture would very soon have exceeded their value. I have lately had preof of this, the authorized charges for the keep of twenty head of cattle com- mitted to my care (as Deputy Fiscal) by the Justice of the Peace (the owners having fled from justice) having exceeded the price for which they were sold to pay expenses, by about four pounds.

The military officers seem to have exercised a sound discretion in disposing of the property; for, under the particular circumstances, it appears to me, that having once removed it to Kornegalis, they had no alternative than either to sell it at the highest price it could realise at the time, or abandon it to the mob.

(Signed)

W. MORRIS, Ássistant Government Agent

Colombo, October 20, 1849.

MY DEAR SIR,

of Kornagulla.

November 29th.

Not having any personal knowledge concerning

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To keep cattle at such a time of commotion,

the expenses of keeping cattle in cases of cattle and in such numbers as they were found straying, stealing, I thought it proper to inquire of Mr. Cole-

pepper, the police magistrate, before answering your was an affair of the atmost difficulty, even as a note; and this accounts for my delay in answering matter of arrangement, whilst as a question of

your note.

I understand from him, what indeed I always un- expense, the cost of their keep would soon have derstood to be the case, that whenever the police eaten up the whole value of the article, in a have, for the purposes of trial, detained cattle in

eattle-stealing cases, the expenses of keeping them country where a bullock or a buffalo sells for have amounted to more than the value of the 11, 10s. or 11., and a cow brings much less.

animals.

Yours very truly,

JAS. STEWART.

Where it was found practicable to restore and preserve the property seized, it was done and restored to its owners.

When this was not to be attempted with security, the property was sold, and the proceeds impounded and paid over to the owners.

The cattle were sold whenever it was impracti-

cable to keep or restore them forthwith.

The same was the case with the grain, which was found in considerable quantity in these deserted villages.

In relation to the absolute necessity of proceeding

to sell these articles, the Deputy Assistant Commis- sary at Kandy says in his letter of the 18th Novem- ber, 1849;

"The paddy and cattle sequestrated it was found absolutely necessary to dispose of at once on the