CO882-(1-2) — Page 73

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

།

Reference:

TTIC.O. 882

لسائر

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

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

24

Sir Colin Campbell sent the assistant agent of the adjoining district, Major Rogers, (who was equally incredulous) to investigate the affair.

And within twenty-four hours so convinced did Major Rogers become, that he sent in forty pri- soners arrested for high treason; the day following thirty to forty more, and each succeeding day to the number of 100; and discovered that the dis- affection extended to his own province, Badulla, as well as to Major Kelson's district. Of these, twelve were selected for trial, being the ringleaders, and put on their trial at Badulla; one of them was the Pretender himself, Chandrayotty.

་

Major Kelson says: "I had not then succeeded DENNID, THE Purtender, 1848.

in arresting a man named Jawa, who was sword- bearer to the Pretender, and described as a most dangerous and active person, against whom I had strong evidence. Shortly after, however, a man was brought to the adjutant by a corporal of the Rifles, in Kandy, (who stated that he had taken him in the lines, for attempting to seduce the sol- diers from their allegiance), and I recognized him as the man called Jawa, against whom I had issued my warrant. He was sent to me, committed, and ultimately tried with the others, and acquitted, This man Jawa is the present Pretender Dennis." And another of the ringleaders who was then arrested but not put on his trial was Dingoralle, Hangaranketty, the second Pretender, who was caught and shot by court-martial, at Kornegalle.

Of the thirteen prisoners thus tried, the Pre- tender Chandrayotty alone was convicted, and is now undergoing imprisonment in the gaol of Colombo.

The evidence was clear against all; but the jury, the majority of whom were Kandyans, were un- fortunately divided in opinion, and Chandrayotty would have escaped with the rest, had not his own confession obstructed his acquittal.

Major Kelson ascertained that all the chiefs of his district were more or less involved, and is fully of

* Dennis is said by Captain Watson to be a high-caste man, who stooped to act as a Cooly and a cart driver to obtain inform- stion and further his plans. The more general belief is that he is a low-caste man, “ a jagerrer," or cook; and it is rouch the most probable of the two, as it would be easier for a low-caste man of ability to assume the character of rank than for a high- osste Kandyan to degrade himself by doing the duty of a Cooly J. É. T.

Kandyan devotion to Royalty.

25

opinion that had not, the Pretender been arrested at the moment, the movement would have resulted in a rebellion as extensive as the conspiracy.

The causes of dislike to us then were those uni- formly assigned since, an undefined impatience at our presence, and a determination to expel us and restore a native sovereign.

In fact, so slavish was their adoration of the symbol of royalty then set up, that even in the Court-house Major Kelson found it difficult to restrain the people from prostrating themselves before the "King," as they persisted in calling him, so often as they were required to identify the chief conspirator.

Even on the trial before the Supreme Court the witnesses, as will be seen in the evidence printed in the Blue Book, page 355, addressed him succes- sively as "the King."

The confession of Chandrayotty is a remarkable document. It is in the Blue Book, page 353, and describes all his own proceedings after his enlarge- ment from gaol in 1842, on a charge of treason; his wanderings with two Malabars who call themselves descendants of the kings of Kandy, and one of whom (the Kalu Kumara-Devy, "Black Prince- God," is still in Ceylon), would have been the sovereign de facto" had the late rebellion suc- ceeded; his receptions at the chief houses; their

There is no purely Singhalese family now remaining with pretensions to the throns. The last kings were of Malabar descent, and the family of the latest, Raja Singha, who was expelled by us, still exist in some number on the coast of India, where they are pensioners of the Ceylon Government.

Their vicinity is an inconvenience, as the Kandyans have thus a constant facility of supplying themselves with a king: and on every recent occasion of disturbance some members of this family have been in the island, apparently awaiting the chanos of the issue, when the pretender for the time being would, if successful, retire in their favour.

The adoration of the royal character by the Kandyans is something approaching to experstition. They associate the name as well as the idas of divinity with royalty; and in the evi- dance both of 1884, 1843, and 1848, will be found frequent referanom to their feelings that the kingly power comes directly from the gods (B. B., 366). The Pretender is always styled the Prinos-God. The house in which he is received in £tted as for a reiglious ceremony (B. B., 260). The homage done him resembles that offered to a god, and is called by the same name, “a Pinkama” (B. B., p. 368).

This superstition adds singularly to the influence and authority of the chinếu in ordering out the people on such occasions; and it explains the expression quoted by Lord Torringtow, in his Despatch, February 25, 1846 (B. B., p. 187), where one of the witamonas maid, "I was told that a king bad come, and I would have believed bad I been told that it was one of the gods.”

H