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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON

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COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Some publications of this kind were translated into Singhalese, and reprinted from the "Observer” newspaper, and circulated in Kandy; and however limited their circulation, I believe they were pro- ductive of great mischief, as they were read in the temples, and their contents repeated to the people by the chiefs and their emissaries.*

And the mere fact that such publications were disseminated under the eye of the Government unchecked, had a remarkable effect in unsettling the minds of the people.

This was followed by a still more distinct agita- tion got up by the same parties, with 'the view to arousing the people to demand a new 'form of Government, to supersede the authority of the Governor and his Councils, and to insist on a representative assembly.

In order to effect this it was necessary to appeal to the people on some distinct and intelligible

grounds, and now for the first time the legislative The Tarco. measures of the Council in relation to the new taxes were laid hold of as a grievance, and one by one they were denounced to the people as the illus- tration of bad government, inasmuch as if the natives had power in their own hands they would be enabled to get rid of such taxes and avoid the similar. The Singhalese people imposition of any were called on to resist these taxes, and told that those who failed to do so, or who submitted to pay them "without opposing them with 'their whole power" would only be considered a race of slaves. -Blue Book, page 163.)

A very vigorous and general agitation com- menced in May, 1848. Pétitions on all these sub- jects were drafted and printed in the ""Observer" office, and sent to the different out-stations, where the people were called together to sign them; 'the matter being chiefly conducted 'by some discon-

* Mr. Morris vary distinctly traces the excitement and eventual outbreak at Kornegalle to the influence and instruisentality of the press and its agents' (Letter, p.'178). Mr.MMessi has doosribed ita pernicious offibēts in Ballkragen. (p.997). (And ma intelligent chief of the same distriat, in a loties prfitted in the Blue Book, has ascribed the prevalener of mischief to the perversion of the press. (Sea Blus Book, p. 159).

+ Previously to this the taxes had been favourably received by the very sama press which now commenced to abuse them.

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Treachery of the Chiefs.

Assemblages of the people in Kandy, July 6th & 8th.

Change of Taction.

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tented European descendants and the chiefs with whom they were in communication.

Petitions of this nature were in process of sig- nature at Kornagulle at the very moment the revolt broke ont, and similar agitations were proceeding at Matelle itself, at Ratnapoora, and many other places in the Kandyan country.

The chiefs saw the favourable opportunity thus presented to them to make a fresh attempt at general revolt, and as usual, not content to confine themselves to the mere truth in relation to the taxes, they resorted to invention, and in addition to the taxes actually imposed on the Kandyans, they aroused their apprehension to the highest by stating authoritatively that these were but two or three out of thirty-five which were in preparation, and they exhibited the blank sheets to be filled up with the statistical returns annually collected for the Blue Book as proofs of their accuracy.

The Pretender and his immediate associates thus unexpectedly reinforced by the European agi- tators. and vigorously assisted by the crusade of the chiefs against the taxes, saw that now the moment had at last arrived for action, and he took his men- sures accordingly.

Early in July there occurred the two meetings in Kandy, at which the people sought an interview with the authorities, in order to ascertain the truth

in relation to the alarm of taxation.

These meetings took place contrary to the wishes of the chiefs.

It was the policy of the chiefs to mislead the people on this subject, and that policy was defeated by their interview with the Government Agent on the 6th of July, and with myself on the 8th.

The people themselves assured me that their soming into Kandy on this ocasion and on the errand, was their own act, and I so reported to the Governor. (Blue Book, page 165.)

I have reason to believe that the results of those two meetings utterly disconcerted the plans of the conspirators, and for the moment paralysed their proceedings.

It involved the necessity of a total change of tactics, their design of using the story of the taxes as a means to arouse the people, having been thas unexpectedly defeated.