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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

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

nori.

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again four Moor buildings and a Public Works Department line had been burnt, and thence, partly by motor and partly on foot, to Ehetuwewa and Galkadawela, where another boutique was burnt. Spent the afternoon in inquiries up to about 7 p.m.

Most of the claims were ridiculous. One sportsman has estimated the damages the day after the fire at Rs. 2,500, which was doubtless a fairly handsome sum, but within the bounds of possibility. A few days afterwards he sent in a claim for Rs. 5,000; a few days later he sent in a claim for Rs. 10,000; and a day or two ago he came to the Korala and said his damages amounted to Rs. 13,000. His only explanation was that when he sent in his original claim he was dazed. On being asked to explain why he had sent in three subsequent claims, rising in a sort of crescendo, he explained that, as he slowly recovered from his dazed condition, he remembered more and more damages! It seemed desirable to make an example of him, so I declined to pay him anything except the value of the building.

This, however, did not deter the other people from putting in exaggerated claims. Some for looting I dismissed altogether, there being no doubt that claimants had removed their goods elsewhere before the disturbances, and then claimed for 11. A mare's them as having been looted, whereas the boutiques showed no signs of loot whatever. not even a pane of the glass almirahs having been broken. The other claims I rigor- ously pruned. At ten minutes to seven I received a telegram from Assistant Super- intendent of Police, saying thirty Sinhalese were coming to Galgamuwa with return tickets, and requesting me to round them up and warn Mr. Bradley and his Punjabis. I rushed to the station just in time for the train and got all the lights I could lighted, and rounded up all the third class passengers, and myself examined them and their tickets, only to find that they were not pilgrims trying to get to Anuradha- pura with return tickets from Kurunegala but wretched villagers of Galgamuwa and the neighbourhood, who had been summoned to Kurunegala in riot cases and were returning to Galgamuwa with the return halves of their tickets! All of which the idiotic police at Kurunegala might have found out for themselves. While I was acting as ticket puncher it began to rain in torrents, and we all got soaked!

115. Mabag- alkadawele.

116. Cialgn.

117. Kurun

ogala.

118. Twelve

Panjabis

returned.

119. Ano-

radhapura

precautions.

120. Evening round. 121. Night nurse for

Punjabis.

123. Ceylon

I'lanters'

Ride Corus rifles removed

Saturday, 26th.-Went to Mahagalkadawele early to see Mr. Bradley and his Punjabis. They seem quite happy and have turned back the magnificent total of eleven pilgrims, which is more than the other road parties have done! Told him he might leave this afternoon.

Returned to Galgamuwa and inquired into looting cases all morning, till 3 p.m. Returned to Kurunegala by special, taking Mr. Bradley and his men.

Round town in the evening, all quiet. Informed Deputy Assistant Adjutant- General that I could now send off twelve Punjabis out of my lot.

Sunday, 27th.-Indignant telegram from Mr. Macdonald at having found no Punjabis this morning at Mahagalkada wela. Replied that they were withdrawn yesterday afternoon, having completed their job. Drove towards Potuhera, and had a complaint of further troubles there, a Moorman having been beaten and some things taken from his house. Sent police to make inquiries.

Round town in evening. All quiet.

Monday, 28th.Round town in morning. Returned twelve Punjabis and put on night watchman to wake the remainder. I tried hard to explain to the Punjabi officer that, in accordance with orders, I was giving him a night nurse! Why a force of ten or twelve men cannot provide their own guard at night, heaven knows.

Mr. Cheyne, of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps, came to remove to Kandy spare Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps rifles.

Saw Mr. Woodhouse, of the Survey Department, as to crimping from this 19 Crimping Province Mr. Wavell of the Survey Department to act as "Base Negombo." Official Europeans or Europeans of any sort-are so scarce here that I do not think that they should be removed without reference to me. Mr. Wavell, though perhaps he did not know it, was helping to keep things quiet in Nikaweratiya simply by being there, and suddenly, without reference to me, he is removed to do a job with Pun- jabis at Negombo. The Western Province can surely better spare Europeans to act as Base Negombo" than I can. So informed Mr. Woodhouse.

124. More Punjabis.

118. Mr.

Tuesday, 29th.--Round town morning and evening. All quiet. Punjabi. officer reported that twelve men had come from Anuradhapura. I have no instructions about them and don't want any more men, so I told him to send them on to Colombo. Received through Colonial Secretary a further memorandum regarding Mr. Fraser again. Fraser's procedure in Colombo. It is not--so far as I can see-adapted to this Province, and even in the Western Province is likely to lead to the whole question of compensation, together with a heap of other rather ticklish questions, being hung up for months.

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Mr. Simpson came to ask for return of his car, which has been commandeered. 126. Car. Promised to do what I could to release it. It is at present running about with Mr. Collins.

pitiya.

Wednesday, 30th.-After doing tappal went to Kuliyapitiya with Assistant 12. Kuliya- Superintendent of Police to see how Mr. Collins was getting on. He appears to have finished most of Katugampola Hat Pattu and to have a little more work in Dewamedi Hat Pattu, and I think he had better continue it. He is getting in most of the money as he goes on.

Also inspected police station. Some 900 guns are collected here, most of which should be destroyed. One caught my eye, a Tower musket," engraved "Tower, 1855," a regular old Brown Bess.

Also interviewed magistrate as to his squabble with the Assistant Superin- tendent of Police. He seemed quite unrepentant, but I pointed out in the plainest possible language that the very fact that he had made complaints to me about the action of the Assistant Superintendent of Police countermanding orders given by him to the police under different circumstances showed that he imperfectly under- stood the position, and if repeated would show he was unfit for his job, and that his only salvation was that he had since worked hard and kept the place quiet.

The truth is that the native magistrate generally is not fit to cope with riots, and requires stiffening, and when that stiffening comes, in the form of a European Assistant Superintendent of Police, is inclined to resent it.

Returned in evening, Kurunegala all quiet. Brought back Mr. Simpson's car and released it.

-C. R. CUMBERLAND, Government Agent, North-Western Province.

Kurunegala Kachcheri,

24th July, 1915.

Enclosure 5 in No. 40.

Diary of the Assistant Government Agent for the Month of June, 1915.

1st. 2nd.

#

*

1....

of looting.

3rd. Received wire from Mudaliyar, Pitigal Korale Central, that Nattandiya 2. First news bazaar had been looted on 2nd, night, some of the accused under arrest. ment car out of order again. Left by 'bus, wiring to Assistant Superintendent of Govern- Police to secure a car at Chilaw. Managed to pick up a car returning empty in the bazaar and got to Chilaw about 12.30. Superintendent of Police, the telegram, despatched to him before 11, delivered, At 1.15, when arranging with Assistant though received at Chilaw at 11.1.

tions at

At Chilaw the District Judge had already sworn in special constables, includ. 8. Precku. ing Mr. Victor Corea and an habitual criminal: a Town Guard also formed on Chilaw. units of Ceylon Light Infantry and Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps, under Lieutenant Sansoni. The main road was guarded near site of New Hospital, and a picket in the town. A large number of padda boats in town: these were not allowed to pro- ceed to Puttalam. All was quiet, but the Moors raised their prices at once and so infuriated the Catholics of the place.

Secured Mr. Scharenguivel's (Medical Officer) car and went with him and Assis 4. Prelim tant Superintendent of Police with two armed constables to Madampe. Muhandiram at Lunuoya bridge pushing back crowds, including many women with

Found the inary patrol. empty bags. On to Marawila, where I met Mr. C. A. Pieris, J.P. and Unofficial Police Magistrate, who followed us to Madampe. Mohammedan boutiques (Moor and Bambay Bais) were emptied: all quiet, but the Then to Nattandiya, where the mosque had been desecrated shortly before I arrived. Thence up the Old Road, on which we overtook various small parties of rowdies going towards Madampe: dispersed parties and arrested some. Lunuoya bridge, shortly before which we found a gang of thirty to forty, with a The parties increased in numbers towards Theosophical Society schoolmaster (since sentenced to six months' rigorous imprison ment): at Lunuoya junction found several Buddhist priests loitering about.

On to Madampe: came into the middle of the mob: the main street seething s. Madampe with looters, the Muhandiram and headmen doing their best, but powerless. The rice. diversion in the rear sent the looters flying: a certain amount of booty recovered on the spot six cartloads on way north also seized. Much has since been recovered by the Muhandiram, who searched the houses of surrounding villages.

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