CO882-(1-2) — Page 85

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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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only prevented from bursting into open rebellion, first by the Pretender's defeats at Warriapole and Kornegulle, and next by the proclamation of mar- tial law successively in the districts of Matelle and Kornegulle.

The principal documents in demonstration of All the surroundingdistricts of the this are the reports of the various Government Kandyan province ready to rise.

officers, and the depositions of the several chiefs

and headmen examined by Mr. Buller, and whose statements are appended to his letter to the Colonial Secretary, 4th November, 1849.

Halpe Ratamahatmaya states, that had the King got to Kandy all the surrounding districts must have joined him. Doombera, Harrispatoo, Hewa- hette, Oodeneura, Yatteneura, and Oodapalata, in short, every district to the east and south, would have risen with those already in arms on the north and west. (Appendix, page 89.)

Naja-pitya Koralle confirms this statement, and includes the Four Korles amongst the intended in- surgents (page 91); in fact, he says there would have been a general rise of the whole province had. the King reached the ferry instead being defeated

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at Warriapole. They had been long prepared for this, and the Pretender had gone through the country and prepared them for a rise." I think there could not be less than 50,000 or 60,000. wha would have joined the King at Katagastotte. (the ferry within two miles of Kandy.)

Harrispatoo is the district adjoining Kornegalle, and lying between it and Kandy. The Korale of that district, a headman of the second rank, says, there are 4000 or 5000 male inhabitants, and about 2000 guns in that Patoo; the King was supposed to be protected by the gods and invulnerable, and all the people in that district were prepared to

follow him. (Page 95),

The Korale says, "I have no doubt that had the King marched as far as Ballo-cadua (a strong pass about two miles nearer Kandy than WaE.. riapole), all the people of Doombera, and Harrism patoo would have joined him, and, bad the troops not been in time on Friday both those districtn would have risen. 10,000 or 12,000 would base. joined at Ballo-cadus, and if they had, get toMandy the whole of the adjoining distriats, would hawe come in also. Had the rebellion bean allowed to

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continue one day longer, the whole country would have been destroyed." (Page 95).

This is the opinion of the headman of that dis- trict, founded on his information obtained since the insurrection.

Helkewille, another Korale of Harrispatoo, says, had the Pretender been allowed to come as far as

the ferry all the neighbouring country would have gone to ashes! they would all have joined the re- bellion. (Page 129).

Talleemore-gedre, Korale of Oodesia-patoo in the district of Matelle, deposes that he saw the King before his entry into Matelle accompanied by 4000 followers, "their object was to expel the English and take the country. They thought they had so large a number in their favour, that they were certain of victory. They were all Kandyans, and Poorang-apoo was the only low-comtry man amongst them

If they had been allowed to get as far as Kandy, about 50,000 or 80,000 men would have joined." (Page 107.)

.....

The whole mass of evidence shows that the crisis turned upon the events of a single hour—had the rebels not been encountered at Warrinpole-had they advanced even to the pass of Balla-cadus, two miles nearer Kandy, they would have been joined by prodigious numbers, and the pass would have been impregnable - and already the people had began to assemble at the ferry between the Pro- tender and Kandy, so that a few hours more would have seen the country in one universal revolt.

Mr. Shms, a police magistrate near Kandy, mys:

“I have unquestionable proof that from Polgawella, eleven miles south of Kornegulle, to Dambool in the Matelle district, forty miles north, the whole population was in revolt, and I firmly believe that had a delay of forty-eight hours taken place in arresting the rebellion, it would have extended all over the central province.” (Page 190.)

Three priests from three distinct distriata ware dky by MF, Sims ip Todmipane, Ma3' they hall met by mom- alla rebellion.

on the sales

cert from

(Pugs 190.).

Another kenduma of Matolls,

đima, sition " that he considery this more serious reballion than that of 3816)