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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44408 ***
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/narrativeofopera00johnrich
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
+
+
+
+
+
+NARRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF A DETACHMENT IN AN EXPEDITION
+TO CANDY, IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, IN THE YEAR 1804.
+
+With Some Observations on the Previous Campaign, and
+on the Nature of Candian Warfare, etc., etc., etc.
+
+by
+
+MAJOR JOHNSTON.
+
+Of the Third Ceylon Regiment, then Captain Commandant of the Detachment.
+
+A New Edition.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Dublin
+James McGlashan, 50 Upper Sackville-Street.
+Wm. S. Orr and Co., Paternoster-Row, London.
+
+MDCCCLIV.
+
+Dublin: Printed by George Drought, 6, Bachelor's-walk.
+
+
+
+
+    TO
+
+    HIS EXCELLENCY
+
+    SIR DAVID DUNDAS, K.B.,
+
+    General and Commander-in-Chief, &c.
+
+
+    SIR,
+
+    The operations of any part of the British troops, and the means by
+    which they may be rendered more effectual, cannot be a matter of
+    indifference to the Commander-in-Chief. Whatever contributes to the
+    improvement of military knowledge will, I am persuaded, be
+    favourably received by your Excellency, to whom the service is
+    already so much indebted for its present proficiency in military
+    tactics. It is the object of this narrative to relate and explain a
+    species of warfare in which the British troops have been little
+    engaged, and are, consequently, less experienced than in European
+    tactics. If I succeed in benefiting the public service, by showing
+    in what manner the difficulties which pressed so severely on the
+    detachment I had the honour to command may, in any future
+    operations, be either removed or lessened, I shall feel myself
+    amply repaid for the trouble I have taken; and shall, I trust,
+    stand exculpated from the apparent presumption of having obtruded
+    myself on your Excellency's attention.
+
+    I have the honour to be,
+
+    Sir,
+
+    Your most obedient humble servant,
+
+    A. JOHNSTON,
+    _Major, Third Ceylon Regiment_.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+As it appears generally incumbent on those who offer information to the
+public, to explain the sources from whence they have derived their
+knowledge, it may not be improper to state the circumstances under
+which my experience on Ceylon was acquired.
+
+In 1800 I commanded a corps of pioneers, which opened a road for
+General Macdowal's embassy to Candy. After that period, till the
+commencement of the Candian war, I was chiefly entrusted with the
+command of remote districts, uniting in my own person the civil and
+military authorities. On the breaking out of that war, in 1803, I was
+appointed to command a _free corps_, composed principally of Malays,
+and was generally employed in escorting supplies to and from the
+different depôts; a service which led to frequent skirmishes with the
+enemy.
+
+When the army returned to Columbo and Trincomalé, after having seated
+Boodoo Sawmy (the prince whose cause the English espoused) on the
+throne of Candy, I was appointed first commissioner for regulating the
+affairs of the provinces ceded by that prince to the British
+Government. Illness, however, obliging me to repair to the sea-coast
+for the benefit of a change of air, I thus fortunately escaped the
+massacre which shortly after took place in the capital.
+
+On the re-establishment of my health, I was appointed to command the
+district of Batticolo, which, in common with most of our other
+provinces, was invaded by the enemy, who was not driven out till after
+repeated skirmishes.
+
+I continued at Batticolo till September 1804, when I received the
+instructions, in my conception of which originated the expedition to
+Candy, and which General Wemyss has obligingly permitted me to publish.
+
+On my return to Columbo, I was nominated to the command of Hambingtotte,
+into which the enemy had penetrated, under the Desave[1] of Ouva, and
+from whence I was so fortunate as to expel them, with little loss on
+our side.
+
+          [1] Chief.
+
+Thus, during a residence of nearly twelve years in Ceylon, the greater
+part of that time employed either in active military scenes, or in the
+discharge of civil duties, I had frequent opportunities of observing
+the nature of the country, and making myself acquainted with the
+character and customs of its inhabitants, and their mode of warfare.
+
+Having been led, since my return to Europe, to consider the importance
+of the Island of Ceylon as a colony, which, I trust, will never again
+revert to the enemies of Britain, I have been induced to commit to the
+press what occurred to my observation during my continuance there, in
+the hope of promoting the benefit of His Majesty's service; by giving
+to officers, who may hereafter be employed in the interior of the
+island, that information which they may not have had the means of
+obtaining, in regard to a species of warfare peculiar to it, and which
+has not, to my knowledge, been noticed in any former work.
+
+In publishing this Narrative I aspire to no literary fame, having
+joined the army at the age of fifteen--too young to have made any
+considerable proficiency in letters--and at an age when men are even
+apt to lose what they may have already acquired.
+
+I trust these circumstances will bespeak the indulgence of the candid
+reader, for occasional inaccuracies of style and manner, from which I
+cannot presume to suppose this little work exempt.
+
+
+
+
+MEMOIR.
+
+
+Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Johnston was the eldest son of the late John
+Johnston, of Clare, in the County of Tyrone, Esq., whose ancestor (of
+the ancient house of Loverpay, a branch of the Annandale family) left
+Dumfriesshire in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and
+purchased considerable estates in the Counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh.
+
+Colonel Johnston, the subject of this Narrative, was born in 1778, and
+when very young received his Ensign's and Lieutenant's commissions in
+the 19th Regiment, and accompanied that corps to Ceylon, where he early
+attracted the attention of the Governor of the Island, and was placed
+on his Staff.
+
+His command of a detachment of his regiment to Kandy in 1804 is still
+spoken of in Ceylon with admiration. Major Forbes, in his work on
+Ceylon, recently published, makes frequent mention of it, and
+says--"That the gallantry of Captain Johnston and his party taught the
+Kandians a respect for British troops which they had not felt before,
+and afterwards reluctantly admitted; and that one of the chiefs, who
+harassed Captain Johnston's retreat, assured _him_ that the commander
+of that party must have been in alliance with supernatural powers. His
+personal escape while passing through such a continual ambush, and his
+superior judgment and energy, were unaccountable, unless this
+explanation were admitted."
+
+His naturally fine constitution, however, never recovered the effects
+of that severe and trying expedition, and he was shortly obliged to
+return to Europe; soon after which, he joined the senior department of
+the Royal Military College at Wickham as student, and was selected by
+the Commandant to act for him during his absence in Spain. On the
+return of Sir Howard Douglass, he was made Assistant-Commandant--a
+situation which he held till the conclusion of the war; and when
+inquiries were started as to what retrenchment could be made in that
+department, he suggested that his appointment could better be dispensed
+with than many others.
+
+He married Martha, eldest daughter of Thomas Smith, of Shalden, in
+Hampshire, Esq. He died and was buried at Shalden, in June, 1824.
+
+
+
+
+NARRATIVE
+
+OF AN
+
+Expedition to Candy.
+
+
+Before I enter on the detail of the operations of the detachment, which
+I had the honour to command on the expedition of 1804 against Candy, it
+may be proper to explain the peculiar nature of Candian warfare, and to
+describe the country and the character of the inhabitants, considered
+with relation to military affairs; since to these circumstances may be
+attributed, in a great measure, the want of success which in the
+interior of Ceylon has too frequently attended the operations of the
+regular troops of Europe against the undisciplined rabble by whom they
+have been opposed.
+
+Ceylon, situated at the entrance of the Bay of Bengal, is reckoned
+about the size of Ireland. It consists of two great divisions; the one
+possessed by Europeans, the other exclusively occupied by the natives,
+and governed by the King of Candy. The part actually in possession of
+the English encircles, like a belt, the territories subject to the
+King of Candy, comprehending the whole coast of the island, in a
+circumference which varies from ten to twenty and thirty miles in
+breadth, its extent inland being regulated by the terms of various
+treaties concluded between the King of Candy and the successive
+European invaders of his territory, at the termination of their
+different wars. The residence of the English is confined to the
+principal settlements on the coast; the rest of their territory is
+inhabited and cultivated partly by Cingalese, and partly by Malabars;
+the former occupying the southern parts, and the latter the northern
+coast, adjacent to the continent of India, from whence they gradually
+migrated.
+
+Our knowledge of the interior of Ceylon is still extremely imperfect.
+The ruggedness of the country, and the insalubrity of the climate at
+any distance from the coast, have hitherto prevented our obtaining an
+accurate survey even of those parts in the interior under our own
+immediate control. Of those in possession of the Candians, consisting
+principally of steep and lofty mountains, in many places covered with
+impenetrable forests, still less is known. Well aware that our
+ignorance of their passes and defiles forms one of the best safeguards
+of their independence, the rulers of the Candian nation take all
+possible care to prevent our acquiring information on this subject.
+They watch the ingress and egress of their territory with unremitting
+vigilance. This is the less difficult, as the access is by paths along
+which two men can seldom go abreast. In these paths gates are fixed,
+and guards stationed, to prevent the entrance of strangers, and to
+examine all passengers. Few Europeans, even in time of peace, venture
+to approach these barriers; and the continued detention of Major Davie,
+since the unfortunate fate of his detachment, notwithstanding the
+unwearied exertions of Governor North and General Maitland to effect
+his liberation, is an example of the extreme difficulty of escape.
+
+It does not appear that the Portuguese and Dutch armies, which at
+different times penetrated the interior, were accompanied by men of
+science capable of taking topographical surveys of the country. Indeed,
+the officers who commanded those armies do not seem to have attached so
+much importance to this species of military knowledge as we now find it
+to deserve. They have not left us any general description of the
+country, nor even of those parts which were the scenes of their own
+operations. The accounts which remain of their campaigns abound,
+indeed, in details of battles and marches, describing the sufferings
+and privations of their troops, but convey no topographical
+information.
+
+The government of Candy, like most Eastern governments, is purely
+despotic. The standing army consists of a few hundred men, chiefly
+mercenaries, who are generally stationed about the king's person. They
+are armed with muskets, taken at different times, or purchased from
+their European invaders. Although they possess little, if any, of what
+is considered discipline in Europe, yet the Candians have acquired, in
+their frequent conflicts with the Portuguese and Dutch, a considerable
+knowledge and dexterity in that species of warfare which is best suited
+to the nature of the country and the disposition of the inhabitants.
+Conscious of their inability to resist the regular attack of European
+troops, and aware of the advantages they possess in being familiar
+with the country and inured to the climate, they avoid close combat,
+preferring an irregular and desultory warfare. They harass the enemy
+in his march, hanging on his flanks, cutting off his supplies,
+interrupting the communication between his divisions, and occupying
+the heights which command the passes, from whence they fire in perfect
+security from behind rocks or trees. They aim principally at the
+Coolies, who carry the ammunition and provisions, well knowing that,
+without these, a regular force can make but little progress.
+
+To dislodge them from these heights is a task of extreme difficulty, as
+the paths leading to them are mostly on the opposite sides of the
+mountains, and only known to the inhabitants.
+
+They are accustomed to impede the march of hostile troops by felling,
+and placing as abattis, large trees across the defiles. In narrow
+passes, where they cannot be avoided, this contrivance presents a most
+serious obstacle to the march of troops; for cutting up and removing a
+large tree is not the business of a moment.
+
+One of their maxims is, seldom to press closely an enemy marching into
+their country; being certain that the diseases incident to Europeans in
+that climate, and the want of provisions, will soon oblige him to fall
+back; the farther he advances, the better he promotes their scheme of
+defence, as they can thus throw more numerous impediments in the way of
+his return. In the meantime, they are busily employed in blocking up
+the roads through which they think it most probable that he will
+attempt to retreat; when encumbered by a long train of sick and
+wounded, exhausted by fatigue and want of provisions, and probably
+destitute of ammunition (which frequently happens from desertion of the
+Coolies), then it is, and then only, that they attack him, exerting all
+their energies and skill to harass and cut off his retreat.
+
+What makes the situation of the troops, under those circumstances,
+still more distressing is, that every man who falls into the hands of
+the enemy is certain of immediate death. Nor does this inhuman practice
+arise from thirst of blood, or the gratification of revenge; it is a
+consequence of the reward offered by the King of Candy for the heads of
+his enemies, and of the desire of affording proofs of personal courage.
+
+The Candians will even decapitate their own countrymen when killed in
+action, and carry the heads to their chiefs, as belonging to the enemy,
+in order to obtain this reward and distinction. I had frequent
+opportunities of ascertaining this fact. On surprising their posts at
+night, which we often effected without the loss of a man, and
+afterwards passing over the ground, we invariably found their slain
+without heads.
+
+The nobles hold their lands by tenure of service, and are obliged, when
+called upon, to join the king at the head of a third of their vassals,
+should that number be required. This enables the king to dispense with
+a large regular force, which would be burthensome to his finances, and
+to bring into the field, on any emergency, a considerable portion of
+the male population of his kingdom.
+
+Each village has its chief, with several inferior officers, in
+proportion to its size. The chief, on receiving an order from his
+dessa, or lord, summons every third, fourth, or fifth man, according to
+the nature of his instructions, and proceeds with his feudatory levies
+to the place of rendez-vous. Each soldier is provided with a musket,
+and carries with him fifteen days' provisions, and a small cooking
+vessel. A few are armed with bows and arrows. A leaf of the talipot
+tree, an extensive umbrella, serves to protect him from the heat of the
+sun during the day, and two men, by placing the broad end of their
+leaves together, may form a tent that will completely defend them
+against the rains or dews, by night.
+
+The provisions of the Candian are equally portable with his tent.
+Although, in most parts of the continent of India, rice forms the
+principal article of food amongst all ranks of natives, in Ceylon, and
+particularly in the interior of the island, it is reserved for the
+higher classes, and is a luxury of which the lowest order of the people
+seldom partake. The chief food of the poorer sort is a grain that grows
+on the hills, with little cultivation, and without watering. This,
+together with a root dug from the bottom of the tanks, and a decoction
+of the bark of a tree found in abundance in the forests, constitute
+their principal means of support. Men accustomed to such diet cannot be
+supposed to require many luxuries in the field. Two or three cocoa
+nuts, a few cakes made of the grain I have just described, and a small
+quantity of rice, compose the whole of the soldier's stock for the
+campaign. His other wants he is certain of being always able to supply.
+
+Thus equipped, the Candian soldier follows his chief, to whom he is
+accustomed to pay the most implicit obedience. He crawls through the
+paths in the woods, for the purpose of commanding the roads through
+which the hostile troops must pass, or climbs the mountains, and places
+himself behind a rock, or a tree, patiently to await the enemy's
+approach. At the end of fifteen days he is relieved by a fresh
+requisition from the village; and thus the army is constantly supplied
+with fresh troops, totally unencumbered, the party relieved always
+carrying home their sick and wounded companions. Another great
+advantage attending this system of warfare is, that the soldier will
+more cheerfully encounter fatigues and privations, which he knows are
+to be of short continuance, and must terminate at a certain fixed
+period. He is also supported by the hope of shortly returning to his
+village, and recounting his exploits.
+
+Such a system could only answer in a country like that which I have
+been describing, where the theatre of war is almost always within
+certain limits, so that whatever be the fortune of the contest, the
+soldier is seldom removed above two, and never more than four days'
+march from his own abode.
+
+Nor is it necessary to furnish those returning home with escorts, as
+they have little to fear from the slow and unwieldy movements of their
+European enemies, whom they can at all times avoid by taking a
+circuitous route. A Candian army, thus unencumbered by sick and
+baggage, and being perfect masters of their intricate paths and passes,
+is enabled to move with much more rapidity than regular troops,
+strangers to the country, and encumbered, as they usually are, with
+artillery, ammunition, baggage, provisions, and frequently a long train
+of sick and wounded, can possibly do.
+
+The climate also, which, as in every uncultivated country, is
+unfavourable to the constitutions of its invaders, has been a powerful
+auxiliary of the Candians, in all their wars with the European powers,
+who have successively had possession of the maritime parts of the
+island.
+
+The Portuguese were the first Europeans who obtained a footing in
+Ceylon. They occupied a considerable portion of the island from 1517 to
+1658, a period of 141 years. They at first came as merchants, and
+obtained permission from the king to erect a small factory at Colombo,
+which, however, they soon converted into a fort. The spirit of conquest
+which then animated the Portuguese nation would not allow them to
+remain long contented with what they had thus peaceably obtained. They
+made gradual encroachments on the adjacent territories; and being
+strengthened by reinforcements from their other settlements in India,
+they not only threw off all appearance of restraint and allegiance to
+the prince, but even carried the war into the heart of his country. The
+situation of the island, divided into several governments, each jealous
+of the other, was particularly favourable to their views. By the
+superiority of their arms they soon extended their conquests over some
+of the most valuable provinces, and by their address and insinuating
+manners obtained a degree of influence at the court of Candy, which
+none of their successors have ever been able to acquire. They even
+persuaded one of the Emperors of Ceylon, at his death, in 1597, to
+bequeath his kingdom to the King of Portugal: a bequest which was
+attended with no permanent advantage, and only involved them in fresh
+wars.
+
+The Portuguese government in Ceylon appears to have committed a great
+error in policy, in raising the Cingalese to the rank of generals, and
+entrusting them with the command of armies. At one time, four of these
+persons, under the title of _Modiliars_, went over to the enemy, by a
+preconcerted arrangement, which occasioned the destruction of the
+Portuguese general, Constantin de Sâa, and of his whole army.
+
+Ribeiro, a Portuguese captain, in his History of Ceylon, a work of
+authenticity, but now very scarce, gives an account of the whole
+affair; which he thus prefaces:--"We had four Modiliars in our armies,
+viz., Don Alexis, Don Balthasar, Don Casmus, and Don Theodosius. As
+they were all four born at Colombo, of the Christian faith, very rich,
+and allied to the first families of the island, they were made
+commanders of armies. The General had much consideration for them, had
+them always with him, admitted them frequently to his councils, and
+very often followed their advice. Notwithstanding, although they had
+considerable establishments amongst us, and were under great
+obligations to the General, they did not scruple to enter into a secret
+treaty with the King of Candy, which, as shall be seen, was the cause
+of our total ruin."--(Ribeiro Hist. of Ceylon, lib. ii. cap. 1.)
+
+This treaty had been carrying on for three years, at the end of which
+time, things appearing now to be ripe for their purposes, the Modiliars
+persuaded the General, that the honour of Portugal required that the
+King of Candy should be chastised for conduct which they represented as
+insulting to the Portuguese crown. These Modiliars commanded the
+advanced guard of the Portuguese army, composed of 20,000 native
+soldiers. As the hostile armies approached each other, Casmus, one of
+the principal traitors, by way of signal, struck off the head of a
+Portuguese, and displayed it on the point of his lance; on which the
+three others declared themselves, and their example was followed by all
+the native troops of the army. The General, and the European soldiers,
+consisting of only 1500 men, after an obstinate defence, were at length
+overpowered, and annihilated.
+
+This event contributed principally to effect the ruin, and ultimately
+the expulsion of the Portuguese nation from Ceylon.
+
+I have introduced this circumstance, in order to guard my countrymen
+from ever reposing an unlimited confidence in the natives of Ceylon.
+The Cingalese, however heartily they may appear to enter into our
+views, are, notwithstanding, a very venal and treacherous people. That
+four men, enjoying a rank and emoluments next to the Governor, and
+superior to any which they could possess in the Candian country, should
+have thus gone over to the enemy, is a proof how little able they are
+to resist the temptation of a bribe; and it does not appear that their
+character has since that period undergone, in this respect, any
+material change. Although it is not likely that the Modiliars should
+ever be entrusted with any high military command under the British
+Government, yet they may have opportunities, in other situations, if
+admitted into our confidence, of betraying our plans to the enemy. As
+from their knowledge of the country, and their influence with the
+natives, whom we employ as Coolies, they must necessarily be much about
+the persons of the officers commanding detachments of our armies in the
+interior; it is necessary that while we make use of them in their
+various situations, we should, as much as possible, prevent their
+penetrating into our designs.
+
+In 1658, the Portuguese were finally expelled from Ceylon by the Dutch,
+in alliance with the Cingalese. The Dutch, when they found themselves
+in possession of those ports along the coast, which had formerly been
+occupied by the Portuguese, soon threw off the mask of moderation,
+which they had till then worn; and war, as might be expected, ensued
+between them and the King of Candy. Although the Dutch at the time
+possessed great resources in India, and their troops were not inferior
+to any in Europe, they could effect but little against the natives,
+defended by the climate and the nature of the country.
+
+The flower of their armies either fell victims to disease, or were cut
+off in skirmishes with the enemy, whilst the loss of the Candians was
+comparatively trifling. The constitutions of the Portuguese, from the
+nature of their own climate, and the simplicity of their diet, were
+better suited to the country than those of the Dutch, and rendered them
+more fit to undergo the fatigues and privations of Candian warfare.
+They also assimilated their manners more to those of the native
+Indians, which, above every thing, contributed to their successes. On
+the other hand, the haughty republican manners of the Dutch were not so
+well adapted to the Indian character. Inflated by national pride, they
+despised customs and prejudices, which appeared to them absurd, only
+perhaps because they differed from their own. To disgust their friends,
+and increase the number and resources of their enemies, was the natural
+result of such impolitic conduct. Soldiers, and particularly officers,
+ought to recollect, that advantages gained in the field by the blood
+and valour of their countrymen may frequently be rendered useless by a
+foolish display of national pride, by a cold and repulsive behaviour
+towards the natives, or an ill-timed manifestation of contempt for
+their customs and prejudices.
+
+The Dutch, however, were enabled, after successive conflicts during a
+series of years, in which thousands of their countrymen perished, to
+complete the belt that now encircles the King of Candy's territories,
+and wholly to exclude him from the sea-coast.
+
+Their last war of any importance was in 1763, when they attacked Candy
+with an army of upwards of 8,000 men, composed of Europeans, Sepoys
+from their possessions on the coasts of Coromandel and Malabar, and
+Malays from Batavia. The latter are more dreaded by the natives even
+than European troops. The Dutch, with little opposition, got possession
+of the enemy's capital, in which they maintained themselves for upwards
+of nine months, with the loss of nearly half their force. After having
+suffered almost every privation, their provisions being nearly
+exhausted, and all communication with their settlements on the coast
+cut off for three months, the officer on whom the command had devolved
+(Major Frankana), who appears to have done everything that could be
+expected from a brave and experienced officer, called a council of war,
+in which it was determined, after much debating, as the only means of
+preserving the wreck of the army from utter destruction, immediately to
+abandon the place, and to force their way to Columbo.
+
+The army was pursued by the Candians, who, fortunately not being aware
+of the intended retreat, had not time to block up the roads. They,
+however, harassed them by every means in their power, and instantly put
+to death those who had the misfortune to drop in the rear.
+
+The invalids, who were unable to keep up with the line, were collected
+in churches by the commanding officer of the retreating army, and
+labels imploring for mercy were in vain placed round their necks. The
+moment the Candians came up with them, they were cruelly butchered. The
+survivors at length reached Columbo, exhausted with hunger and fatigue.
+
+In 1796 the Dutch, after having been in possession of the country 143
+years, were in their turn expelled by the English, aided by the
+Candians, whose policy it is invariably to join the invading army.
+
+That the dangers and difficulties of war in Candy have by no means
+diminished since Ceylon fell into our hands, will hereafter fully
+appear from the mode of conducting our expeditions, and their
+unfavourable results. The want of supplies in the interior renders it
+indispensable for an invading army to carry provisions, as well as
+stores, along with it. The carriage of doolies, or litters for the sick
+and wounded, and camp equipage, also requires the addition of an almost
+incredible number of followers. It has been found that, at the lowest
+computation, a detachment properly equipped requires, even for the
+short period of fifteen days, at the rate of four Coolies for each
+soldier; so that, for a detachment of 600 men, the followers alone will
+amount to 2,400, requiring daily provision for 3,000 mouths.
+
+The Coolies have the utmost aversion to a Candian campaign; to collect
+any number of them is consequently attended with difficulties and
+delay, and it can only be done by pressing. The instant it is known in
+any of the districts that the native chief has received orders to
+seize, as they not improperly term it, a certain number of Coolies, the
+villages are deserted by the lower class of the inhabitants, who, to
+avoid the police-officers, either conceal themselves in the forests, or
+take refuge in the Candian territories. After considerable delays, the
+chief seldom succeeds in procuring above half the number required; and
+thus the advantages which we seem at first sight to enjoy over the
+enemy, of having always a considerable disciplined force, ready to
+march at a moment's notice, are completely lost, from the impossibility
+of any prompt movement.
+
+By the flight of the Coolies, intimation of our design is soon conveyed
+to the Candian government, and the necessary orders immediately issued
+for calling out the inhabitants, which orders are punctually complied
+with, as well from the dread of the punishment of disobedience, as from
+the people being interested in the defence of their country. Long
+before our detachments can be equipped, the enemy is arrayed in force
+ready to receive them.
+
+The aversion of the natives to serve as Coolies in our armies is
+founded on very obvious reasons. The burdens which they are obliged to
+carry are heavy, and their progress consequently slow. They are
+frequently exposed to a galling fire, doubtful of being taken care of,
+if wounded, and certain of being put to death if made prisoners; their
+post is more dangerous than that of the fighting part of the army;
+while they are not, like the soldiers, buoyed up by the prospect of any
+military advantage or preferment, or excited by the stimulus of fame.
+
+It cannot, therefore, be surprising that the Cingalese, naturally
+timid, and rendered indolent by their climate and mode of living,
+should use every effort in their power to avoid being impressed on such
+a service, or that they should, when forced into it, afterwards desert.
+This is a frequent occurrence, and is often attended with serious
+consequences. They are also apt, without any intention of escaping from
+the army, when unexpectedly attacked, from the mere impulse of fear, to
+throw down their loads, and rush into the woods to conceal themselves.
+This is a practice which neither threats nor entreaties can check; but
+their design being simply to elude the danger of the moment, their head
+man generally succeeds in rallying them as soon as the firing ceases.
+This dispersion of the Coolies for a time entirely stops the line of
+march, as it would be impossible to move forward without them, but by
+abandoning the sick, the wounded, and the stores to the enemy.
+
+These disasters happen mostly in defiles; and the enemy, well knowing
+the disposition of our Coolies, generally selects such places for
+attacking them.
+
+All these difficulties were unhappily exemplified in the marches of our
+troops during the Candian war. In the year 1802, a wanton act of
+violence on the part of the Candians, for which reparation was in vain
+demanded, terminated in open hostility between the two governments.
+Without any pretence of aggression, our merchants, in carrying on their
+trade in the Candian territory, had been attacked, and plundered of
+considerable property. After repeated remonstrances on the part of the
+British Government against this outrage, and evasive delays and
+violated promises on the part of the Candians, Mr. North felt himself
+under the painful necessity of proceeding to hostile measures. On the
+31st of January, 1803, a division of our forces, under the command of
+General Macdowal, composed of the flower of the Ceylon army, began
+their march from Columbo, and after suffering much delay from want of
+Coolies, entered the enemy's territory on the 6th of February. On the
+20th, in the neighbourhood of Candy, they formed a junction with the
+division of Colonel Barbut, which had marched about the same time from
+Trincomalé. Their united force amounted to 3,000 soldiers; and, as
+usual, they met with little opposition from the Candians in their
+advance.
+
+On the following morning the troops crossed the great Candian river,
+Mahavilla Gonga, and took possession of the capital of Candy, which was
+totally deserted by its inhabitants on their approach. Not an
+individual was found in the place; and almost every article of value
+had been removed to the mountains. The possession of the capital,
+which, in most countries, would be considered as an object of great
+importance, if not decisive of the conquest, here afforded no
+advantages whatever to the captors. Temporary works were thrown up,
+under the direction of our engineers, to defend it from any attack of
+the natives during the approaching monsoon; and some attempts were made
+to collect provisions for the garrison from the surrounding country.
+And, owing to the exertions of Captain Madge, of the 19th regiment
+(whom Colonel Barbut had appointed to the command of Fort Macdowal, a
+post situated about sixteen miles from Candy, on the Trincomalé road),
+considerable quantities of grain were from time to time collected, and
+forwarded to Candy for the use of the garrison. These, however, were
+measures attended with extreme difficulty; our foraging parties being
+constantly harassed by the enemy: insomuch that it had at length become
+necessary to procure all our supplies from Columbo. But sickness and
+desertion among the Coolies, and the difficulty of escorting them
+through an enemy's country, where they were continually harassed,
+rendered this mode of supply extremely precarious and insufficient.
+
+About the middle of March, the rains set in, which rendered the
+conveyance of farther supplies from the coast nearly impracticable. It
+was, therefore, judged advisable to withdraw all the troops from the
+interior that could prudently be spared. Accordingly, in the beginning
+of April the main body of the forces marched from the Candian territory
+towards Columbo and Trincomalé, leaving 1,000 soldiers, consisting of
+Europeans and natives, under the command of Colonel Barbut, for the
+defence of Candy.
+
+A truce having been concluded between General Macdowal and the Adigar
+(prime minister of the Candians), and the fortifications being
+finished, this force was deemed sufficient for any probable
+contingency.
+
+Before the departure of the General, Mooto Sawmy, whom the English
+Government supported in his claims on the throne of Candy, was crowned
+in the palace with all the forms of Eastern ceremonial. But not one of
+the Candians appeared to support his pretensions. This prince entered
+into a treaty with the English to whom, amongst other valuable
+concessions, he ceded the province of the seven Corles.
+
+As soon as the enemy found that a considerable part of the forces had
+been withdrawn, and that those left behind began to suffer from the
+effects of climate, they made preparation for a general attack on
+Candy, which, notwithstanding the truce, they invested on the 23rd of
+June, and the state of the garrison was such as to induce Major Davie,
+who had succeeded to the command on the death of Colonel Barbut, to
+surrender the town the next day, on condition of being allowed to march
+with his garrison to Trincomalé, and that the sick and wounded should
+be taken care of by the Candian Government.
+
+On their arrival on the banks of the river, about three miles from the
+town, they found it not fordable, and applied to the Candians to assist
+them with rafts to convey the troops across. This request was
+apparently assented to; but for two days, under various pretences,
+compliance with it was continually evaded.
+
+In the mean time the Candians, in violation of the articles of
+capitulation, in which Mooto Sawmy had been included, demanded the
+person of that unfortunate prince, as the only condition on which the
+detachment would be permitted to cross the river. To this Major Davie,
+having assurances from the king that Mooto Sawmy should be kindly
+treated, after much hesitation, agreed. This unhappy prince was led
+back to the capital, where, with two of his relatives, he was
+immediately put to death, and all his followers shockingly mutilated.
+
+No sooner was this concession made, than the Candians demanded that the
+troops should deliver up their arms. This also was agreed to. The
+native troops were then immediately separated from the Europeans; and
+the latter were led out, officers and soldiers, in pairs, and with a
+few exceptions perfidiously massacred.
+
+Whilst these horrid acts were perpetrating on the banks of the river, a
+scene no less revolting to humanity was passing in the capital. All the
+sick in Candy, to the amount of 120 men, were murdered in cold blood,
+as they lay, incapable of resistance, in the hospital.
+
+Of all this ill-fated detachment, Major Davie, Captains Rumley and
+Humphreys, and Corporal Barnsley, of the 19th, alone survived the
+dreadful catastrophe. The three former were detained in the hands of
+the Candians; and the latter, after having been severely wounded, and
+considered by the enemy as dead, contrived to escape to Fort Macdowal
+during the night. This post, as has been before-mentioned, was
+commanded by Captain Madge, of the 19th regiment, who had for three
+days been closely besieged, and completely surrounded.
+
+Repeated offers had been made to him of a passport to Trincomalé with
+the whole of his sick and baggage, on condition of surrendering the
+place, which, of course, had been indignantly rejected; and on
+Barnsley's approach to the post, the enemy, with their characteristic
+cunning, sent him forward with a flag of truce, in the hope that his
+communication of the capture of Candy would show the uselessness of any
+further resistance, and produce the surrender of the fort.[2]
+
+          [2] Barnsley's Deposition.--See Appendix.
+
+Captain Madge, however, finding himself in the midst of the enemy's
+country, unsupported and without provisions, immediately determined to
+force a retreat to Trincomalé, a distance of 126 miles, before the
+Candians, who were celebrating their recent successes in the capital,
+could bring the whole of their troops against him, or indeed could be
+aware of his intentions. His party consisted of 14 Europeans and about
+70 Malays, of whom the whole of the former were sick, and a
+considerable number of the latter incapable of much exertion; with this
+handful of men, under circumstances so discouraging, he commenced his
+arduous march on the 27th of June, at night; and though surrounded by
+large bodies of the enemy, who were continually harassing and keeping
+up a severe fire on his flanks and rear, he nevertheless succeeded in
+reaching Trincomalé on the 3rd of July, after suffering many privations
+and distresses.
+
+Indeed the promptitude with which this retreat was attempted, and the
+skill and courage with which it was effected, and a part of our brave
+troops rescued from the sad fate of their devoted associates, reflects
+the highest credit on the military talents of Captain Madge, and was
+distinguished by the most marked approbation of Government, and also
+the Commander of the Forces.
+
+The other posts which had been established in the interior fell
+successively into the hands of the enemy.
+
+The fate of the troops that occupied the two small posts of
+Ghirriagamme and Gallighederah, in the neighbourhood of Candy, was
+never ascertained.
+
+The post of Dambadinia, situated about 60 miles from Candy, on the
+Columbo road, was garrisoned only by a few invalids, under the command
+of Ensign Grant, who had often distinguished himself by his gallantry
+and activity during the war. On the 26th of June he was joined by
+Lieutenant Nixon, of the 19th, with a few invalids, who had left Candy
+during the truce, when the command devolved upon this latter officer.
+On the 29th they were attacked by the Candians in great force, many of
+whom were dressed in the uniform of the soldiers killed in Candy.
+Although sheltered only by temporary breastworks, in some places
+composed merely of rice-bags, Lieutenant Nixon and his little party
+stoutly defended themselves, repulsing the enemy in repeated assaults.
+The Candians several times offered the most flattering terms of
+capitulation, which were no less gallantly than judiciously rejected;
+and on the 2nd of July the garrison was brought off by a body of troops
+from Columbo, under the command of Capt. Blackall, of the 51st
+regiment.
+
+Thus fell the last of our posts in the Candian country, and in the
+course of ten days from the retaking of the capital not an inch of
+ground remained to us beyond our original frontier.
+
+Thus defended by their climate, their mountains, and their forests, the
+Candians, by adhering steadily to the same mode of warfare, have been
+enabled to resist the incursions of their several European invaders for
+three centuries. Although successively attacked by the Portuguese,
+Dutch, and English, when in the zenith of their eastern conquests, and
+repeatedly driven from their capital, they are now in as complete
+possession of the interior of their country, and govern it as
+independently of any European influence, as at any period of their
+history since the first invasion of their coast.
+
+The Candians, flushed with their successes, and knowing that our forts
+on the coast were now weakly garrisoned, poured down from their
+mountains in the months of August and September, in the hope of utterly
+expelling us from the island. And in this attempt they were joined by
+the native inhabitants of our own settlements, who rose, as of one
+accord, to accelerate our expulsion. This fact affords a strong and
+convincing proof that, when we lose the power of the sword, to
+entertain any hope of preserving India through the affection of the
+natives, would be building on the most unstable foundation. So strong
+is their attachment to their ancient governments, laws, language,
+manners, and religious opinions, that three centuries of European
+domination have not diminished its force. But in leaving their
+fastnesses, the Candians relinquished those advantages which alone made
+them formidable; and reinforcements arriving most seasonably to our
+army from the Cape of Good Hope and Bengal, their efforts were
+completely defeated.
+
+The Government, thus strengthened, considered itself in a situation to
+retaliate on the enemy; and detachments entered the country from
+various points, laying it waste wherever they penetrated.
+
+This mode of warfare, however repugnant to the feelings of Government,
+appeared the only one now left us to pursue; and while it contributed
+to the security of our own districts from invasion, it held out a hope
+that, by convincing the King of Candy of his inability to protect his
+people, he might ultimately be led to a negotiation for peace.
+
+However, in August, 1804, being still further strengthened by the
+arrival of the 65th regiment from Europe, and considerable
+reinforcements from Madras and Bengal, it was resolved once more to
+penetrate into the interior, and to take possession of the enemy's
+capital.
+
+Great difficulties having been experienced in procuring a sufficient
+number of Coolies to accompany the forces from Columbo and Trincomalé,
+under the command of General Macdowal and Lieut.-Colonel Barbut, in
+1803, it was now thought advisable, from the magnitude of the army
+about to be employed, to divide it into six columns, which should
+march separately from different stations, so as to meet at a given
+time at one central point, in the vicinity of the capital. The
+following settlements, viz.:--Columbo, Negumbo,[3] Chilou, Poutelam,
+Hambingtotte, Batticolo, and Trincomalé, were the points from whence
+the detachments were to proceed. It was hoped that, by this means, each
+division would be enabled to procure a sufficient number of Coolies for
+its own immediate wants in the district from which it was to march;
+whereas it would have been almost impossible to collect, in any
+reasonable time, from different parts of the island, a sufficient
+number for two very large detachments. This mode of attack, it was
+expected, would disconcert the enemy, and lead to information relative
+to the interior of the island, hitherto so little explored by
+Europeans.
+
+          [3] The troops from Negumbo and Chilou were to have been
+          united: consequently would have formed but one detachment.
+
+General Wemyss, who had succeeded General Macdowal in the command of
+the forces, desirous of ascertaining, by personal inspection, the state
+of the detachments at the different stations, and of inquiring into the
+practicability and eligibility of the different routes, determined, in
+the month of August, 1804, to make a tour of the island. On visiting
+Batticolo, where I then commanded, he explained to me (as one of those
+selected to conduct a detachment) the meditated expedition, and his
+views respecting the combined attack on Candy. From Batticolo the
+General proceeded to Trincomalé, from whence I shortly afterwards
+received the following letter, dated Sept. 3, 1804:--
+
+    [MOST SECRET.]
+
+    _Trincomalé, Sept. 3, 1804._
+
+    SIR,
+
+    In the event of your not having marched towards Arriagam, you are
+    directed to have a strong detachment in perfect readiness, as soon
+    as possible, to march to Candy, by the route of Ouva. To enable you
+    to equip a strong force, a detachment of Europeans and natives will
+    march from this as soon as the weather clears; and, when joined by
+    it, you will proceed towards the enemy's country, arranging so as
+    to be within eight days' march of the town of Candy on the 20th
+    instant, which is the day fixed for the commencement of general
+    co-operations. You will then proceed direct upon Candy, not doing
+    any injury to the country or people, unless opposed; and as
+    different detachments are ordered to march precisely on the 20th
+    for general co-operation for the destruction of the enemy's
+    capital, the various columns will be put in motion from Columbo,
+    Hambingtotte, Trincomalé, Negumbo, Chilou, and Pouttalim, the whole
+    to be within eight days' march of Candy on the 20th instant; and,
+    on the 28th or 29th, the Commander of the forces fully expects a
+    general junction on the heights of Candy.
+
+    The General fully relies on the execution of these instructions;
+    and, from your well-known zeal and activity, he has no doubt of a
+    perfect completion of his wishes.
+
+    I have the honour to be,
+
+    Sir,
+
+    Your obedient servant,
+
+    R. MOWBRAY,
+    Act. D. Adj.-Gen.
+
+Immediately on the receipt of this letter I made the necessary
+preparations for our march.
+
+Previous to entering on a detail of the operations of the detachment
+which I had the honour to command, it may be proper to offer a few
+remarks relative to the district of Batticolo. This district is
+situated on the south-east side of the island, and is the most remote
+from the seat of government of all our possessions in Ceylon. The fort
+is built on a broad river of the same name, navigable for small
+vessels, and about four miles from the coast. Our territory here
+extends from fifteen to twenty miles up the country, and continues low
+and flat, as far as the Candian frontier, which is formed by a chain of
+steep and lofty mountains. Speaking of this part of the country, I
+shall avail myself of the beautifully descriptive language of the Rev.
+Mr. Cordiner, in his History of Ceylon:--"The south-east coast, viewed
+from the sea, is particularly picturesque and romantic. The country, in
+the highest degree mountainous, presents hills beyond hills, many
+beautiful and verdant, others huge and rocky, of extraordinary shapes,
+resembling ruined battlements, ancient castles, and lofty pyramids."
+
+Of these mountains we have little knowledge. The natives represent them
+as covered with immense forests, the northern parts of which are
+inhabited by the Vedas, or Bedas, a singular and savage tribe, nearly
+in a state of nature, and who hold no intercourse with the other
+inhabitants of the country. They are by many considered as the
+aborigines of the island.
+
+Beyond this chain, and to the southward, are the still more rugged
+mountains of Ouva, celebrated for the secure asylum they afford to the
+kings of Candy, when driven from their capital. It was here that, in
+1631, the whole Portuguese army, with their general, Constantin de Sáa,
+in attempting to pursue the King in his retreat, were, in consequence
+of the defection of the Modiliars, overpowered, and perished to a man.
+The small-pox had of late depopulated a great part of the district of
+Batticolo; those who were not themselves affected with the malady (from
+the dread entertained by the natives of India of this dangerous
+disease), deserted those who were, flying, to avoid contagion, to the
+woods. This, together with the general disaffection of the natives to
+our cause, rendered it impossible to procure above half the number of
+Coolies required for the use of the detachment. I was therefore obliged
+to supply the deficiency by carriage bullocks, a circumstance which
+afterwards occasioned considerable embarrassment and delay.
+
+On the 14th of September I received a letter from the acting
+Adjutant-General, dated at Jaffnapatam, the 8th of the same month, of
+which the following is a copy:--
+
+    _To Capt. Johnson_,
+    Commanding Batticolo.
+
+    SIR,
+
+    The Commander of the Forces directs you will, on the receipt of
+    this, reduce your division to 300 men, as you will then be enabled
+    to have a sufficiency of Coolies for the purpose of entering the
+    enemy's dominions. As some unforeseen obstacles have prevented the
+    various columns forming the intended junction, about the 28th or
+    29th instant, on the heights of Candy, agreeably to the
+    instructions transmitted to you on the 3rd instant, you are
+    directed to march on the 20th of this month, bending your course
+    towards the province of Ouva, and form junction at the entrance of
+    that part with the detachment ordered from Hambingtotte, which will
+    march the same day, the 20th instant, by the route of Catragame, on
+    the great road leading to Candy, which is frequented by the King,
+    for visiting that temple.
+
+    You will, in junction with the other detachments, concert such
+    measures as will best tend to effect the greatest devastation and
+    injury to the enemy's country.
+
+    All persons found in arms to be immediately made examples of, and
+    the peaceful and defenceless peasant to be spared.
+
+    You will note in writing all observations relative to the country,
+    as our future operations will be guided by them in that part, and
+    transmit your journal to me, for the General's information.
+
+    I have the honour to be, &c.
+
+    (Signed) R. MOWBRAY,
+    Act. D. Adj.-Gen.
+
+    _Jaffnapatam_,
+    8th Sept. 1804.
+
+Considering this letter as merely a modification of the original plan
+of operations, as far as related to _change of route and day of
+march_, I immediately sent off an express to Colonel Maddison,
+commandant of the Hambingtotte detachment, naming a place for the
+junction of our columns. The distance from Batticolo to Hambingtotte
+being nearly 200 miles, and our orders being to commence our march on
+the 20th, it would have been impossible to receive Colonel Maddison's
+answer to my dispatch before that period. Of course there could be no
+room for mutual consultation, in regard to the place of junction; it
+was indispensable, therefore, that I should specify it at once, and I
+accordingly named Kiratavillé, a large village situated on the
+frontiers of Ouva, the residence of a Candian chief, and likely in
+consequence to be well-known to the guides.
+
+The remainder of the narrative will be most properly continued, and
+best understood, in the form of a journal.
+
+Sept. 20.--In the evening embarked with the British troops and stores,
+on the Batticolo river, and proceeded, during the night, to Surcamony,
+a village on its banks, distant 27 miles.
+
+21.--This day principally occupied in landing the stores. Joined by the
+native troops, who had proceeded by land from Batticolo.
+
+Our detachment now consisted of the following numbers:--
+
+  +----------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+------+
+  |                |        Europeans.     |         Natives.        |      |
+  |                +-----------------------+-------------------------+------+
+  |                |Captains.                                        |      |
+  |                |   |Lieutenants.                                 |      |
+  |                |   |   |Ensigns.                                 |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |Serjeants.                           |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |Drummers.                        |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |Privates.                    |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |Subidar, or Capt.        |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |Jemidar, or Lieut.   |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |Hav. or Serjeant.|      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |Drummers.    |      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |Privates.|      |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |         |Grand |
+  |                |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |         |Total.|
+  +----------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---------+------+
+  |Royal Artillery |   |   |   |  1|   |  6|   |   |   |   |         |  7   |
+  |His Majesty's   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |         |      |
+  |  19th Regiment |   | 2 |   |  3|  1| 64|   |   |   |   |         | 70   |
+  |--Malay ditto   |   | 1 |   |   |   |   |  1|  1|  4|   |      46 | 53   |
+  |1st Batt. Bengal|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |         |      |
+  |  Volunteers    |   | 1 |   |   |   |   |   |  1|  9|  2|      75 | 88   |
+  |2nd Batt. ditto |   | 2 |   |   |   |   |  1|  1|  5|  2|      76 | 87   |
+  +----------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---------+------+
+  |(Pioneers and   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |         |      |
+  |  Coolies 550). |   | 6 |   |  4|  1| 70|  2|  3| 18|  4|     197 | 305  |
+  +----------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---------+------+
+
+N.B. One one-pounder, and one 4-2/3 coehorn.
+
+Sept. 22.--Marched at day-light to the westward, keeping in a southerly
+direction as much as the nature of the country would admit, in order to
+approximate the route of Colonel Maddison's detachment.
+
+23, 24, 25, 26.--Followed the same course, expecting, as we drew nearer
+to the place of rendevouz, to hear of the Hambingtotte division.
+
+27.--Reached Sambapelly after a very fatiguing march of above seventy
+miles (from Surcamony), over a country wild and mountainous in the
+highest degree. During the last sixty miles we had not seen a house or
+a human being, nor was there anything except the paths through the
+forests and round the bases of the mountains, to induce a belief that
+this quarter had ever been peopled. We crossed one broad river, and
+several smaller streams, none of which fortunately impeded our march.
+The weather during the day was close and sultry, the circulation of the
+air being impeded by the forests; the nights, on the contrary, were
+foggy and cold. These changes of climate began to take effect on the
+troops, and I found it necessary to send back from hence two Malays and
+twenty-two Bengal Sepoys, who were indisposed. Sambapelly is a small
+village, near which stands the residence of a Candian chief. The
+country in the vicinity assumes a more favourable appearance. Some
+villages are discernible, and the valleys are in many parts cultivated.
+
+28.--Marched at daylight, the country continuing mountainous, but the
+slopes of the hills in many places cleared, and the valleys in general
+cultivated. Passed through some villages, which were entirely deserted.
+Numerous parties of the enemy were seen at a distance, along the sides
+of the mountains, watching our movements, by which they seemed to be
+directed. About three o'clock, as the advanced guard was descending
+into a deep valley, close to the village of Kieratavally, they were
+fired upon by a party of the enemy, posted on the opposite hills, who
+fled as soon as they had discharged their pieces. Luckily one man, who
+was wounded, fell into our hands. Although we had now marched 124 miles
+from Batticolo, this was the first native to whom we had been enabled
+to speak. It was here that I expected to meet the Hambingtotte
+division, but our prisoner had heard nothing of it, nor of any
+detachment than that under my command; a circumstance which, cut off as
+I was from communication by the surrounding enemy, created considerable
+anxiety. As it was impossible to remain stationary with a corps in a
+country where there was no possibility of procuring provisions of any
+kind, every article of that description having been removed to the
+mountains, and as I conceived there could be no doubt of the
+Hambingtotte division bringing up the rear, I lost no time in
+advancing, and the more so as I expected I must soon meet some of the
+other columns, which I imagined must shortly be concentrating
+themselves towards the capital. During the night we heard the shouts of
+the enemy, and saw their numerous fires in various directions along the
+sides of the mountains.
+
+Kieratavally is a neat Candian village, situated in a well-cultivated
+part of the country. Before leaving it I set fire to a large house
+belonging to the Dessauve, that the Hambingtotte division on arriving
+there might see that we had already passed.
+
+29.--Continued our route at daylight in the direction of Candy,
+anxiously looking out for other detachments of our troops. After
+marching sixteen miles over a country similar to what we had lately
+traversed, reached Pangaram, a large village, inhabited chiefly by
+Lubbies (a trading caste), and situated on the banks of the great river
+which passes Candy, and which is here about 150 yards broad. The
+village was, as usual, entirely deserted. The river being much swollen,
+we immediately began to prepare rafts. During the day the enemy hung on
+our flanks in considerable numbers, but did not oppose our progress
+otherwise than by exchanging a few shots with our advanced and rear
+guards. Towards night, however, they lined the opposite bank of the
+river, and seemed resolved to dispute the passage.
+
+30.--The river having fallen considerably during the night, the enemy
+fled from the opposite bank, after a few discharges of round shot. A
+few volunteers made good their passage, and the river continuing to
+fall, the rest of our men were enabled to ford it. The stores were
+carried over on rafts. While this was going on, I detached Lieutenant
+Virgo, with a party of about sixty men, to destroy a palace of the King
+of Candy, situated seven miles down the river, in which I understood
+was a depôt of arms and military stores. They completely effected their
+object.
+
+Oct. 1.--Continued our march towards Candy, and encamped in the evening
+in a small plain called Catavilly, distant fifteen miles from Pangaram.
+The country showed less appearance of cultivation. The enemy continued
+to hang on our flanks, firing now and then a few shots, but making no
+serious resistance.
+
+ 2.--After marching eight miles, reached the ford of Padrapelly, where
+we crossed for the second time the Candian river, the course of which
+is very circuitous. Our passage was attended with great difficulty,
+owing to the rapidity of the stream, and the rockiness of the bottom.
+During the last two days, our path was extremely rugged, lying along
+the banks of the river, where the hills ended in high and shelving
+rocks, the soil being washed away by torrents. Encamped on the opposite
+bank, in a small opening, where we could procure no forage for our
+bullocks.
+
+ 3.--Marched at daylight. During this morning the enemy seemed disposed
+to close with us; they killed a soldier of the 19th, and wounded some
+followers. After marching about eight miles, we began ascending the
+pass of Ourané, which we found steep, rocky, and intersected by deep
+ravines. About half way up we halted in the plain of Ourané, where we
+found plenty of excellent water, a most welcome refreshment to our men,
+who were exhausted by climbing up the mountains under the rays of a
+vertical sun, reflected from rocks, which, as the day advanced, became
+more and more heated. Meantime the enemy assembled in considerable
+numbers higher up the mountain, but were dislodged by Lieutenant Virgo,
+whom I had sent forward to secure the pass. Late in the evening we
+reached the summit, after a painful march of fourteen miles, and halted
+in a small village called Comanatavillé.
+
+ 4.--The road on this day's march was worse than any we had yet passed;
+it lay along the brow of a mountain, in several places nearly
+perpendicular, where a false step would have caused a fall of several
+hundred feet. Being very narrow, many of the bullocks tumbled headlong
+down, and the path would have been altogether impracticable for these
+animals, had they not been habituated to carry merchandize along the
+hills. Here and there, where the earth had been washed away, or a rock
+fallen down, the natives had driven stakes horizontally into the sides
+of the mountain, forming a kind of bridge, over which travellers could
+pass. Had these given way under any of the men, they must have been
+dashed to pieces; or had they been previously removed, the hill would
+have been rendered impassable. This is one of the paths through which
+the King of Candy retreats to Ouva, when he is obliged to fly from his
+capital.
+
+That the enemy should have forborne to check our advance by destroying
+the paths, can be accounted for only by supposing, that they thought it
+unlikely so small a force could push forward to the capital, and were
+in hourly expectation of our retreat by the same road, which I
+afterwards understood they had rendered impassable; or, unless, as is
+more likely, they wished, in compliance with their favourite system, to
+draw us into the heart of the country, and attack us when enfeebled by
+sickness and skirmishes.
+
+We encamped, late in the evening, in a paddy (rice) field on the bank
+of the river, under a steep hill, which was occupied by the 3rd company
+of Bengal Sepoys, under Lieutenant Povelary.
+
+ 5.--At daylight the enemy covered the opposite bank, and opened a fire
+of musketry and gengals (Candian field-pieces) on our camp; but as it
+was situated in a hollow, most of the shot passed over our heads; two
+Sepoys, however, were killed, and several Sepoys and Coolies wounded,
+and the tents much injured. The enemy attacked the hill above the camp,
+but were repulsed by Lieutenant Povelary with considerable loss. Our
+position was, notwithstanding, much exposed, both when in camp, and
+when prosecuting our march. On the right ran the river, nowhere
+fordable, and lined on its opposite bank by the enemy; on the left was
+a steep mountain, confining our march to the vicinity of the river. Our
+flankers on the left, it is true, occupied the summit of the mountain,
+and could, by a lateral movement, prevent our being galled from that
+side. We began our march at nine A.M., our flankers on the right firing
+across the river on the enemy; but, as they were chiefly concealed
+behind rocks and trees, with little effect. The most distressing
+circumstance however was, that many of the bullocks, unaccustomed to
+the appearance of Europeans and to heavy firing, became wild and
+unmanageable, broke from their drivers, cast off their loads, and,
+rushing among the Coolies, created much confusion and delay.
+
+Having advanced about three miles in this state, we approached a large
+house standing nearly across the road, and about a hundred yards
+distant from the river. This house was filled with the enemy, who fired
+on the head of our column from holes pierced in the walls. Exactly
+opposite, on the other side of the river, I perceived a battery with
+one heavy gun (which I afterwards found to be a Dutch iron
+eight-pounder), and several gengals ready to open on us whenever we
+came within range. This made it necessary for me to pause: our loss had
+already been considerable; our troops, as well as Coolies, were falling
+fast. To attempt to pass the battery with so lengthened a column as
+ours, disordered as it was by the confusion that had been occasioned by
+the bullocks, would have been highly imprudent, especially as our only
+field-piece upset at this time, by which the axletree of the carriage
+was broken; I therefore determined to storm the house, and, when in
+possession of it, to construct rafts for the purpose of passing the
+river and carrying the battery. Our vanguard accordingly drove the
+enemy from the house, which we entered, and finding plenty of room for
+our whole corps, were enabled to dress the wounded and replace the
+axletree of our gun-carriage. We passed the remainder of the day in
+constructing a large raft of such materials as could be procured.
+Before Lieutenant Povelary, who flanked our left, could get possession
+of a high hill immediately above the house, the enemy were enabled to
+fire a volley through the roof, by which a bombardier of the Royal
+Artillery (Malcolm Campbell) was unfortunately killed. Though only a
+non-commissioned officer, his loss was severely felt by our small
+party, having rendered himself particularly useful by his exertions in
+getting the stores up the mountains during the march. The enemy's fire
+was now wholly directed against the house. They had luckily but little
+round shot for the large gun, and the grape and fire of the gengals did
+no material injury.
+
+The night presented a scene different from what we had yet witnessed.
+On the opposite bank and the adjoining hills were thousands of the
+enemy, every fourth or fifth man carrying a choulou or torch. At
+intervals, a shout of exultation was set up from the battery in our
+front, which was repeated by those around, and re-echoed by others on
+the neighbouring hills. The object of this was to terrify our native
+troops, and induce them to desert.
+
+During the night, the enemy contrived to turn aside a stream, which
+passed close to the house, and had supplied us with water the day
+before; after which we could not procure any, even for the sick and
+wounded. I here endeavoured, but with little effect, to use the
+coehorn.
+
+Owing to the wretched state of the fuzees nineteen shells out of
+twenty-three thrown into the enemy's work fell dead, although these
+shells had been sent us for service from Trincomalé a few days only
+before we set out.
+
+ 6.--Our spirits were greatly raised this morning by a report from that
+active and zealous officer, Lieutenant Povelary, who occupied the hill
+above the house, stating that he heard distinctly a heavy firing in
+the neighbourhood of Candy. This I concluded must be some of our
+detachments crossing the river at Wattapalogo or Kattagastoly. About
+seven A.M., after much labour and loss, we carried our raft to the
+river, which sunk as soon as a couple of soldiers got upon it, being
+composed of iron wood, the only material within our reach. We were thus
+under great embarrassment, when a sentry, on the top of the hill,
+called out that he saw a boat crossing the river about three quarters
+of a mile above the house. I instantly directed Lieutenant Vincent with
+the soldiers of the 19th to seize it at all risks. On reaching the spot
+where the boat had been seen, he found it had been conveyed to the
+opposite side. This obstacle was no sooner known than two gallant
+fellows, whose names it would be unfair to omit (Simon Gleason and
+Daniel Quin) volunteered to swim over and bring it back; which they
+boldly accomplished under protection of the fire of the party.
+Lieutenant Vincent instantly leaped into the boat with as many men as
+it would carry (between fifteen and twenty), and having crossed the
+river, marched quickly down its bank to take the enemy in flank.
+Panic-struck, the Candians deserted the battery, and fled in confusion
+at his approach. Such was the promptitude and decision with which this
+service was executed, that the whole was accomplished with only the
+loss of two men wounded. The Candians, formidable in their fastnesses,
+are so feeble in close combat, that in a quarter of an hour nearly the
+whole of that mass which had a short time before covered the opposite
+banks, and threatened our annihilation, had disappeared in the woods.
+
+I lost no time in prosecuting our march; about two hundred yards in
+rear of the battery stands the palace of Condasaly, the King's
+favourite residence, a beautiful building, richly ornamented with the
+presents received by the kings of Candy from the Portuguese, Dutch, and
+English. This palace had been carefully preserved by General Macdowal
+in 1803. And the King had availed himself of this respect shown to it
+at that time to make it a principal depôt of arms and ammunition;
+which, as I was unable to remove, and it being my object to destroy,
+wherever found, I was under the necessity of setting the building on
+fire. We afterwards continued our march to the capital, expecting, from
+the firing heard in the morning, a speedy meeting with our countrymen
+forming the co-operating columns. Indeed, so confident was I of joining
+some of them, that I had the reports of my detachment made out ready to
+present to the officer commanding in the town.
+
+Candasaly is only five miles from Candy, and the road good. When half
+way from hence to this capital, we passed a heavy Dutch gun which the
+enemy were bringing up to the battery on the river.
+
+Our advanced guard had scarcely got within range of a temple which is
+situated on a hill above the town of Candy, when they sustained a
+volley of musketry; a few minutes afterwards I could plainly perceive
+the enemy flying through the streets in great confusion. It was now
+evident that none of the other divisions had arrived. After detaching
+Lieutenant Rogers with a party of Sepoys to occupy the heights
+commanding the town, our troops once more took possession of the
+capital, which they found, as usual, entirely deserted by its
+inhabitants. The palace being in the most favourable situation for
+resisting any immediate attack, I took possession of it, and looked
+with great anxiety for the arrival of the other detachments.
+
+ 7.--This day passed without any intelligence of our friends. Towards
+evening, a Malay officer and some soldiers formerly in our service, but
+forced into that of the Candians after Major Davie's surrender, arrived
+amongst us, and informed me, that a fortnight before a rumour had
+prevailed of six English divisions having entered the Candian
+territory; that many of his countrymen had accompanied the Candians to
+oppose these divisions, but had returned without having seen an enemy.
+It was generally believed that these divisions had been driven back.
+
+He added that the Candians were in great force in the neighbourhood,
+and delayed their attack only until the climate should begin to take
+effect upon us; and that the firing which Lieutenant Povelary had taken
+for that of our columns on the morning of the 6th was a rejoicing at
+our embarrassed situation, which seemed to them to admit neither of
+advance nor retreat, but to lead inevitably to surrender, and
+consequent massacre.
+
+I was greatly at a loss what to make of this statement. The officer's
+character I knew to be respectable; and their report of the number of
+divisions corresponded exactly with the fact.
+
+ 8.--Early this morning detached Lieutenant Povelary with a party to the
+top of the hills, to ascertain whether a camp, or any part of our
+troops, could be discerned. He brought no tidings of them.
+
+In the forenoon, some gun Lascars, who had been taken prisoners with
+Major Davie, effected their escape to us, and related that they had
+just returned from the frontiers, whither they had marched with a body
+of Candians for the purpose of opposing the English troops that were
+advancing into the country; that they had actually seen one detachment
+with whom their party had exchanged a few shots, by which a Candian
+chief was wounded; that soon after, this detachment marched back to the
+English territory, whereupon the whole corps in which they served was
+recalled to the capital; that a rumour prevailed amongst the Candians
+that all the English troops except my detachment were repulsed; that
+the King had proclaimed to his people that he had driven five English
+armies back to the sea, and that it only remained for them to chastise
+a few banditti who had stolen up from Batticolo.
+
+My anxiety for the safety of my detachment had been hourly increasing
+since my arrival in Candy, and was now wrought up to the highest pitch.
+I considered its situation as eminently perilous. The army under
+General Macdowal had been only twenty days getting to Candy in 1803,
+though encumbered by six-pounders, and obliged to halt several days for
+want of Coolies. The detachment that I conceived to be coming up were
+lighter, and consequently would have been enabled to march much
+quicker.
+
+The distance from Columbo to Candy is only 103 miles, and that from
+Trincomalé, 142, and the roads from both places perfectly known whereas
+my route lay partly through the province of Ouva, the most mountainous
+and least known of the whole island; and, in consequence of my being
+obliged to make a circuit for the purpose of forming a junction with
+Colonel Maddison, amounted to 194 miles.
+
+The time elapsed even since one of the detachments had been seen on the
+frontiers was enough, and more than enough, for its arrival; that they
+were driven back by the Candians, could not for a moment be believed. I
+considered the King's proclamation merely as an artifice to encourage
+his troops, yet the non-arrival of our divisions still continued to
+increase my surprise and uneasiness. Our provisions were now
+considerably reduced, and much of our ammunition expended. Our
+situation began also to make a powerful impression on the Europeans, as
+well as on the native troops. The former, with the exception of a few
+artillery-men, consisted of the 19th regiment, a great part of which
+corps had been sacrificed the year before, under Major Davie. Many of
+these men had been in Candy with General Macdowal; the massacre was
+still fresh in their recollection. They saw displayed in savage triumph
+in several of the apartments of the palace, the hats, shoes, canteens,
+and accoutrements of their murdered comrades, most of them still marked
+with the names of their ill-fated owners.
+
+I could easily collect, from the conversation of the officers, that few
+of them agreed with regard to what ought to be done. I therefore
+avoided calling a council of war, persuaded that it would only give
+rise to unpleasant differences. Added to this, the rains had already
+set in with considerable violence, and I was perfectly aware of the
+difficulty of passing the Candian river during the monsoon. Under these
+circumstances, to have remained longer in the capital would, in the
+event of the other divisions not arriving (of whose appearance there
+was now scarcely any hope), have occasioned the certain destruction of
+my detachment. On the other hand, should they come up (and I had no
+reason to doubt that one of them had been seen on the frontiers), what
+must the General think on finding that my detachment had thus returned
+without co-operation? Added to this, I had to dread the censure and
+disgrace that might result from a step thus precipitately taken.
+
+Balancing between these opposite motives, the state of my mind, on this
+distressing occasion, it is impossible to describe; it can only be
+conceived by those who have had the misfortune to be placed in
+circumstances of similar anxiety.
+
+Obliged to assume an air of gaiety amongst the troops, whilst my mind
+was agitated by the most melancholy reflections; feeling that not only
+the honour, but the life, of every man in the detachment depended on my
+conduct, I may truly say that even those individuals who were suffering
+around me from sickness and from wounds had no reason to envy the
+situation of their commander.
+
+Though strongly prompted by my own feelings to continue following up
+what I deemed to be the object of my orders, I at this period regarded
+the safety of the detachment entrusted to my command as paramount to
+every other consideration. I therefore determined, in the first
+instance to cross the Candian river, so as, at all events, to ensure my
+retreat, and take post on the left bank, where I might wait a day or
+two longer for the tidings of the other detachments. I clearly foresaw
+that this movement would draw the whole of the enemy upon me, and
+consequently lead to a considerable expenditure of ammunition. They
+were in great force in the neighbourhood, and had for the last two days
+abstained from molesting us, waiting to see what steps I should pursue:
+yet of the two evils this appeared the least. By encamping on the left
+bank of the river, we should be in readiness to co-operate with any of
+the other detachments that might arrive. We should also be enabled to
+retreat either on Columbo or Trincomalé, whereas returning by the
+Batticolo road was completely out of the question. In addition to its
+length, and the difficulties which the country presented, I knew that
+the Candians had been employed in blocking up the passes to prevent our
+return. Besides, I must have crossed the Mahavilla Gonga twice, at the
+fords of Padrepelly and Pangaram.
+
+Having weighed these circumstances, I came to the resolution of
+marching out of Candy the next morning.
+
+ 9.--At six A.M. commenced my march, abstaining from destroying or even
+ injuring the town of Candy, that in the event of our troops still
+ coming up, the followers might not be deprived of shelter. On the
+ outside of the town, we passed a number of skeletons hanging on the
+ trees, the remains of our massacred officers. We next reached the
+ banks of the river, the scene of the cruel catastrophe which closed
+ the career of Major Davie's detachment, and found the ground still
+ covered with the bones of the victims. The river not being fordable,
+ we were under the necessity of encamping on this ominous spot, while a
+ party returned to Candy for materials to make rafts. Meanwhile the
+ enemy were seen assembling in vast numbers on the opposite bank. They
+ took care to remind us of the danger of our situation, calling to us
+ to observe the bones of our countrymen, and assuring us that ere long
+ we should experience a similar fate. They repeatedly urged the natives
+ to desert, as the only means of preserving their lives. It is but
+ justice here to remark, that of the native troops, whether Sepoys or
+ Malays, not a man proved unfaithful to his colours. Even from the
+ followers, I had hitherto experienced a degree of fidelity scarcely to
+ be expected from their general character, not a man having yet
+ deserted me. But our situation was now about to become too trying for
+ their resolution.
+
+At three P.M. two rafts were completed; but the current was so rapid
+that our tow-ropes immediately gave way. Punting was therefore the only
+expedient, and this was attended with much delay.
+
+Late in the evening Lieutenant Rogers having crossed with a few
+Europeans, attacked and drove from the hill above the ferry a strong
+party of the enemy, with the loss of one of their chiefs who was
+bayoneted. This considerably checked their ardour. The greater part of
+the night was taken up in getting over our invalids.
+
+10.--In the course of the morning, the river having fallen, some of the
+troops and followers forded it. We were also enabled to get over part
+of the stores. But towards noon the rain set in, and, as is usual in
+mountainous countries, the river became almost immediately too deep to
+be passed in that manner. By the rapidity of the current, one of our
+two small rafts was completely carried away, and the other became
+nearly unmanageable. Our tents, the 3rd company of Sepoys, and our rear
+guard were still on the right bank of the river.
+
+Apprehending that if these men were not quickly brought over, they
+would be lost to us for ever, I ordered them to cross without delay,
+which was effected with great difficulty by four o'clock, leaving the
+tents behind.
+
+The constant skirmishing of the last two days had reduced our stock of
+ammunition to two small barrels of 800 rounds each, and several of the
+troops were without cartridges. Nearly two days had now elapsed since
+my departure from Candy; and no intelligence had reached me of the
+other detachments. I felt, therefore, the necessity of coming to an
+immediate decision relative to my future proceedings; and the troops
+and followers having now all passed, I determined without loss of time
+to commence my retreat.
+
+The Trincomalé road, though longer, appeared upon the whole to present
+fewer obstacles than that leading to Columbo. In following the latter,
+we should have been under the necessity of taking by storm the two
+posts of Geeriagamme and Garlgaddray, situated at the top of the
+Columbo passes, through both of which the road runs. I therefore gave
+the preference to the former route. We were 142 miles from Trincomalé,
+with a road before us less rugged indeed in its nature than that which
+we had traversed, but in which we were likely to be equally exposed to
+annoyance from the enemy. As the bullocks would only impede our
+progress, I determined to leave them behind, and directing each soldier
+to take six days' rice on his back, abandoned the rest of the stores.
+
+Whilst destroying the other stores, a parcel of loose powder, which had
+unfortunately been left near one of the boxes containing shells, took
+fire, which was immediately communicated to the fuses, and the shells
+continued to burst amongst us for some time, killing and wounding
+several of the Coolies who were to have carried them, and desperately
+wounding a serjeant of artillery. This accident occasioned some
+confusion, of which the enemy took advantage, and commenced a general
+attack, with a trifling loss on our side; in which, however, they were
+repulsed.
+
+About five o'clock in the afternoon, we were enabled to commence our
+march, our Coolies carrying a long train of sick and wounded.
+
+It was late before we reached the top of the Trincomalé pass, and the
+rain, the darkness, and the ruggedness of the mountains put it quite
+out of our power to descend. We here passed a distressing night,
+exposed to incessant rain, without the means of preparing victuals, and
+hearing the fall of the trees which the Candians were felling lower
+down on the mountain to obstruct our next day's march.
+
+11.--Found the Candians posted on the different hills that command the
+pass, while the road was blocked up in many places with large trees,
+and in some with breastworks. After several hours' labour and exposure
+to the enemy's fire, we gained the bottom of the pass with the loss of
+five Europeans, eight Sepoys, and thirty followers, killed and wounded;
+a loss considerable in itself, but smaller than I had expected from the
+opposition that awaited us. Here I was deprived of the services of
+Lieutenant Vincent, who received a wound in the thigh; a deprivation
+which I felt severely, from the very able assistance he had hitherto
+afforded me.
+
+We now continued our route, proceeding very slowly on account of the
+great increase of our wounded. Towards evening we passed the ruins of
+Fort Macdowal, which the Candians had entirely destroyed, and halted
+only when the darkness and rain prevented us from finding our way
+further.
+
+12.--Continued our march without stopping, harassed as usual by the
+enemy, who were indefatigable in blocking up the roads before us.
+During this morning, Lieutenant Smith, of the 19th, a most promising
+young officer, received a severe wound in the breast, which completely
+deprived me of his services. At five P.M. perceiving that the enemy had
+strongly fortified a hill over which we had to pass, I attacked and
+carried it by the bayonet, with the loss of two Europeans and five
+Sepoys killed. On reaching the summit, we found the road so completely
+closed up, that we could not attempt to pursue it that night; and to
+aggravate our misfortune, we had lost the guides acquainted with this
+part of the country, two of them having deserted and one having been
+shot this day.
+
+13.--As soon as it was daylight, I perceived a path lying in a
+northerly direction, which I followed as our only guide; concluding
+that if it did not conduct us to Trincomalé, it would lead to some of
+our other settlements.
+
+The enemy this morning appeared more resolute than they had hitherto
+showed themselves. Led on by our own Malays and gun Lascars who had
+formerly deserted to them, they attacked our line both in front and
+rear, and actually cut in amongst the Coolies, who became perfectly
+panic-struck, threw down the sick and wounded, and either ran into the
+forests to conceal themselves, or rushed in among the troops, whom they
+threw into confusion. Unfortunately, two wounded Europeans, a serjeant
+of the Royal Artillery and a private of the 19th, who were in charge of
+the rear-guard, on this occasion fell into the hands of the enemy.
+
+The Bengal Lascars and Malays in the Candian service repeatedly
+addressed their country-men in our ranks, informing them that the King
+of Candy did not consider them as his enemies, and promising that such
+of them as would come over to join him should be appointed Captains in
+his army; but that, if they persisted in continuing with the Europeans,
+whom they represented as an impure beef-eating race, they would be
+massacred along with them, the moment they should fall into their
+hands. All these endeavours to shake the fidelity of the native troops,
+however, still continued unavailing. As the day advanced, the path
+became so narrow and intricate that I foresaw it would be impossible to
+make much farther progress after dark, without entangling the
+detachment in the woods. I therefore halted, and directed Lieutenant
+Virgo to go forward and order back the advanced guard with the sick and
+wounded. This officer not returning, I sent on a corporal to know the
+cause of the delay, and to bring back a part of the 19th for the
+purpose of assisting to charge the enemy, who had by this time
+collected a considerable force in a village in our rear. The corporal
+returned, unable to find our advanced guard. I sent him forward again
+in quest of them with an escort, and after a considerable time had
+elapsed, he returned a second time, reporting that he had been three
+miles in front, without being able to gain the least intelligence of
+them, or even to trace what path they had followed. The enemy were now
+assembled in considerable force in our rear, with the apparent
+intention of closing with us. I determined immediately to charge them
+with the few Europeans belonging to the rear-guard and the native
+troops; leaving a strong party on the spot where we had been stationed,
+for the purpose of directing our vanguard (if they should return) to a
+village at some distance, where I intended to pass the night.
+
+Our brave fellows advanced to the charge, gallantly led on by
+Lieutenants Povelary and Smith of the Bengal Sepoys; they soon routed
+the Candians, and the few who still had strength to pursue, occasioned
+a considerable loss to the enemy. Among their slain, I was happy to
+find two of our Malay deserters, who had made themselves particularly
+conspicuous for the last three days, not only in animating the enemy,
+but in encouraging our men to desert. On this occasion, we took four
+large gengals and a quantity of muskets. The village afforded us
+shelter from the inclemency of the weather, and, what was still more
+welcome, a quantity of boiled rice.
+
+Since our departure from Candy on the 9th, our only food had consisted
+of raw rice, which latterly had become musty and mildewed. We had been
+engaged in one continued skirmish, exposed without intermission
+alternately to a scorching sun and a violent rain; and glad at night,
+when we could get a stone or log of wood, to raise our heads from the
+wet ground. From seven o'clock till two, it generally continued fair,
+and the effects of the sun were powerfully felt. After two, the rain
+set in, and continued incessantly during the whole of the night.
+
+14.--I was much concerned at the advanced guard not returning, and on
+resuming my march, followed the road which I thought it most likely
+they had taken. We had now the satisfaction to find that the enemy's
+pursuit had considerably slackened, owing chiefly to the spirited
+attack of the preceding evening, which showed them that, although
+weakened, we were far from being conquered; and owing in some measure
+also to the inconvenience they too suffered from the incessant rains.
+Passed this night in the woods without shelter.
+
+15.--The enemy's fire continued to decrease; a few shots only were
+fired at us in the course of the day, and those without effect. Halted
+at night in a small village, where we were enabled to procure shelter,
+and some refreshment.
+
+16.--Saw a few of the enemy at a distance; they did not attempt to
+molest us. We here found ourselves in the Trincomalé road. Halted at
+night in a small village a few miles from Minery Lake, where I was
+surprised to find the advanced guard with Lieutenant Virgo, but
+(painful to add) without Lieutenants Vincent and Smith, and two wounded
+soldiers of the 19th. I was informed that Lieutenant Smith had died of
+his wounds; and there was every reason to suppose that Lieutenant
+Vincent had met a similar fate, or perhaps the more distressing one of
+falling into the merciless hands of the Candians. Thus were lost to the
+service two excellent officers, in the prime of life, who had conducted
+themselves throughout this arduous expedition with a degree of zeal,
+intrepidity, and perseverance, highly creditable to themselves, and
+consolatory to their friends. I shall ever regret the loss of these
+meritorious young men, from whose conduct I had on so many occasions
+derived considerable aid. The guard alleged that they had lost their
+way in the woods, and were nearly starved; that the Coolies had
+completely deserted them; that they were themselves so exhausted as to
+be scarcely able to walk, and had no means of carrying the sick, whom
+they were under the necessity of abandoning; that they were without
+guides, and found their way to the village where we then were by mere
+chance. Considering Lieutenant Virgo as the cause, in the first
+instance, of this disaster, by not bringing back the guard, I ordered
+him into arrest.
+
+This officer pleaded, in vindication of his conduct, that the soldiers
+had refused to obey his orders. On further inquiry, I found that the
+situation in which the soldiers were placed had in some degree shaken
+their discipline, and that they were even encouraged in insubordination
+by one of the non-commissioned officers, over whom Lieutenant Virgo,
+from belonging to another corps, had not sufficient control.
+
+Under these circumstances, I thought it best to release this officer
+from arrest, and to submit the whole affair to the Commanding Officer
+of Trincomalé.
+
+17.--Continued our march unmolested by the enemy, and passed the night
+in the woods.
+
+18.--Reached the lake of Candelly, where we were again exposed to the
+inclemencies of the monsoon without the least shelter.
+
+In proportion as the annoyance of the enemy slackened, and the
+necessity of personal exertion diminished, I had more time for
+reflection; and I may truly say, that the last few days of our march
+were not to me those in which I least suffered either in body or mind.
+
+In common with the rest of the detachment, I had performed the greater
+part of the retreat barefooted. Had I possessed, indeed, changes of
+boots and shoes, I could not have used them, my feet having swelled,
+and become so tender from constant wet, that I could not without
+considerable pain put them to the ground.
+
+In this condition, emaciated by fatigue, and labouring besides under a
+severe dysentery, arising, I presume, from the nature of the water,
+cold, and want of proper food, I was for the two last days obliged to
+be carried in my cloak, fastened to a stick.
+
+These bodily sufferings, however, severe as they were, were only shared
+in common with many of those around me, and fell far short of the
+anguish of my mind. Whilst I witnessed the melancholy state of my brave
+companions, I could not help reflecting, that, perhaps, my precipitate
+retreat from Candy had brought all this distress and misery upon them;
+that the other divisions were possibly now in Candy, carrying into
+execution the General's plans; and that, in such case, I must, by my
+premature retreat, incur the censure of the General, and perhaps of the
+whole army.
+
+On the other hand, in the event of our troops not coming up, I was
+satisfied that, had I remained a single day longer in Candy, the river,
+from the constant rains which we had experienced, would have become
+completely impassable; that our provisions would have been expended,
+without the possibility of procuring any fresh supply; and that, though
+determined not to capitulate under any extremity, we must, in the end,
+have been over-powered, owing to the want of ammunition, as well as
+from the pressure of sickness and famine.
+
+While my mind was agitated by these conflicting reflections, we arrived
+at Tamblegamme on the 19th, where we were met by some officers from
+Trincomalé, who had heard that morning of our approach.
+
+No words can express my surprise on now learning, for the first time,
+that it was not intended that I should proceed to Candy; that the
+General, on arriving at Jaffnapatam, had found obstacles to the
+combined attack, which he considered to be insurmountable--(the
+principal of these I have since understood to be the want of Coolies;
+but of this, or of any other impediment to the success of the
+expedition, I was at the time totally unapprized)--that the orders of
+the 8th were intended as a countermand of the former plan; and that my
+having gone to Candy was deemed a disobedience of orders; that it was
+merely meant that the divisions should enter those parts of the enemy's
+territory adjacent to their respective districts, and return after
+laying waste the country; that the other five divisions had accordingly
+made these incursions, and had long since returned; and that the
+Government, having learnt from the Cingalese on the borders of my
+detachment having been in Candy, had despaired of our ever returning.
+
+It does not become me to decide on the origin of this unfortunate
+mistake, or to pronounce whether the fault lay in the orders, or in my
+interpretation of them.
+
+The General, on making the tour of our stations, had taken great pains
+to explain to me the nature of his plans, the ultimate object of which
+was the possession of Candy; nor did he, in the various conversations I
+had the honour to hold with him on that subject, seem to entertain any
+doubt of the practicability of the proposed plan of operations.
+
+These conversations were followed by an order to march, transmitted
+from Trincomalé; and so fully convinced was I that everything was in a
+complete state of preparation, that I considered the orders of the 8th
+in no other light than as a modification of the preceding instructions,
+as a change of the day of march and of the route; I never entertained
+the most distant idea that _the plan_ was relinquished; as, after
+the devastation of that part of the country pointed out in the
+instructions, no ulterior object being presented, the original purport
+of the occupation of the enemy's capital remained unrevoked, and
+consequently to be followed up.
+
+Cut off as I was by the remoteness of Batticolo from any intercourse
+with the other stations, I had no intimation of the changes that had
+taken place with respect to the destination of the other columns, to
+the commanders of which the orders had, it seems, been more explicit.
+
+I hope that it may be allowed me to remark, that the General had seen
+some of them more recently than he had communicated with me; that the
+territory adjoining their districts was in general better known, and of
+course susceptible of clearer description than the province of Ouva.
+
+It appeared, however, necessary that an affair attended with such
+serious consequences should undergo investigation, and I was ordered
+round to Columbo, where a Court of Inquiry was held upon my conduct.
+The decision of the Court was, that I had not disobeyed my orders in
+going to Candy.
+
+The success of so small a force in penetrating unsupported to the
+Candian capital, and afterwards effecting its retreat, created
+considerable surprise throughout the island. The capital had never
+before been attempted with so inconsiderable a force. The troops under
+General Macdowal, in 1803, exceeded 3,000 men, and those the flower of
+the Ceylon army.
+
+I have before remarked, that 1,000 men were even considered necessary
+to defend the town during the monsoon, though protected by works; and
+intervening events had rendered the Candians more formidable.
+
+They had gained to their service 500 well-disciplined Malays and
+Sepoys, with a number of gun Lascars, and 1,000 stand of serviceable
+English muskets, with a supply of ammunition. The continued skirmishes
+in which they had been engaged with us since that period, together with
+their occasional successes, had made them more expert, and given them a
+greater degree of confidence than they had at the commencement of the
+war.
+
+A larger force than had been employed under General Macdowal and
+Lieutenant-Colonel Barbut was, therefore, prepared for the combined
+attack. Of the six divisions, mine was not only the smallest in point
+of numbers, but certainly the worst equipped.
+
+Colonel Maddison, who commanded the Hambingtotte detachment, with which
+I was to have formed a junction at the entrance of the province of
+Ouva, I now learnt did not receive my letter till after his return, and
+his guides led him into a part of the country where there was no water
+to be procured; consequently he was under the necessity of changing his
+route; and instead of advancing to the northward and westward and
+entering Ouva, where his presence, though we might not have met, would
+have embarrassed the enemy, he was forced to keep entirely to the
+southward, so that I derived no assistance from the co-operation of
+that officer.
+
+The other four divisions which entered the enemy's country, had they
+remained long enough, would have caused a powerful diversion in my
+favour; but, after having carried into execution their instructions,
+the completion of which required but a few days, they returned to their
+respective districts, where the whole of them had arrived some days
+before I reached the capital. It was on the return of these detachments
+that the King issued the proclamation, stating that he had driven five
+English armies back to the sea.
+
+Thus the Candians were enabled to bring their whole force, which had
+been completely put in motion for the purpose of opposing all our
+divisions, against my detachment alone; with which, too, the King had
+every cause to be exasperated, in consequence of our having burnt his
+favourite palace of Condasaly, as well as that near Pangaram.
+
+Harassed continually by the enemy, with, latterly, not a round of
+ammunition to return his fire (the few cartridges which were preserved
+by some of the Europeans as their last hope, being rendered useless by
+the rain, and their muskets entirely unserviceable), it cannot be
+surprising that our loss should have been great.
+
+In these respects the enemy had the advantage of us, their powder being
+preserved from damp in cocoa-nut shells, and their arms provided with
+guards made of skin or waxed cloth, which completely secured the locks
+from wet.
+
+But the Candians were not our only enemies, we had to contend with
+hunger, fatigue, extremes of heat and cold, besides all the diseases
+incidental to so unhealthy a climate.[4]
+
+          [4] The following instances are convincing proofs of the
+          insalubrity of the interior of Ceylon. On the 13th of March,
+          1803, the grenadier company of the 65th, under Captain
+          Bullock, consisting of 3 officers and 75 men, marched from
+          Columbo for Cattadinia, a small post in the interior. At the
+          end of the month, without any loss by the enemy, the whole
+          fell victims to the climate, excepting Lieutenant Hutchins
+          and two privates. They were all robust young men, from 18 to
+          23 years of age, and had only landed from the Cape of Good
+          Hope early in November. On the 11th of April, 400 men of the
+          51st regiment appeared under arms at Columbo, on their
+          arrival from Candy. In little more than two months 300 of
+          them were buried, having laid the foundation of disease in
+          the interior.
+
+At an early stage of the retreat, I had been obliged to leave behind me
+the doolies, from the impossibility of getting them on, in consequence
+of abattis and other obstacles being placed in the line of our march.
+Many of the Coolies had been either killed or wounded, several had
+deserted, and of those that remained few were in a situation to carry a
+burthen. I was, therefore, obliged to have the men whose cases were the
+most desperate, carried along on cloths fastened to poles, whilst the
+others got on by leaning on their less exhausted comrades. Our progress
+was consequently very slow; nor was it, for the first three days,
+permitted us to halt, during the day, even for a single moment, to
+dress our wounded men, the least delay enabling the enemy to oppose
+fresh obstacles to our retreat. Latterly, when less pressed by the
+enemy, it was out of the surgeon's power to be of much assistance to
+the wounded, the Coolie who carried the medicines and instruments
+having deserted; consequently the wounds in general became
+ill-conditioned, and at length so offensive to the patients themselves
+as scarcely to be borne.
+
+Those of the detachment who had hitherto escaped sickness and wounds,
+were emaciated, sallow, and debilitated to an extreme degree.
+
+They were almost all barefooted; and many of those who had escaped the
+fire of the enemy, fell victims, after our arrival at Trincomalé, to
+the effects of their previous sufferings.
+
+Amongst those, I am sorry to mention Lieutenant Rogers, of the Bengal
+Sepoys, who died of a fever a few days after his return. This officer,
+by his exertions during the retreat, and especially after I had lost
+the services of Lieutenants Vincent and Smith, had, by his activity and
+zeal, rendered most essential services to the detachment. He was ever
+foremost in danger.
+
+To the exertions, indeed, and animating example of the officers in
+general, and the persevering courage of the soldiers, particularly
+those of the Royal Artillery and 19th, may be principally attributed
+the safety of the detachment.
+
+    _Return of killed, wounded, and missing of the detachment under
+    the command of Captain Johnston._
+
+  +---------+---------------------------+
+  | Detail. |       Royal Artill.       |
+  +---------+------------+--------------+
+  |         | Sergeants. | Bombardiers. |
+  +---------+------------+--------------+
+  | Killed  |            |            1 |
+  | Wounded |          1 |              |
+  | Missing |            |              |
+  +---------+------------+--------------+
+  | Total   |          1 |            1 |
+  +---------+------------+--------------+
+
+  +----------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
+  | Detail.  |                        19th Regiment.                       |
+  +----------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
+  |          | Subidars. | Sergeants. | Corporals. | Drummers. | Privates. |
+  +----------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
+  | Killed   |           |            |          1 |           |         4 |
+  | Wounded  |           |          1 |          2 |           |         2 |
+  | Missing  |         2 |            |            |           |         2 |
+  +----------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
+  |  Total   |         2 |          1 |          3 |           |         8 |
+  +----------+-----------+------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
+
+  +-------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
+  |Detail.|                         Malay Regiment.                        |
+  +-------+-----------+--------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
+  |       | European  | Malay  |   Malay   |          |          |         |
+          |Lieutenant.|Captain.|Lieutenant.|Serjeants.|Corporals.|Privates.|
+  +-------+-----------+--------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
+  |Killed |           |        |           |          |          |       3 |
+  |Wounded|           |        |           |          |          |       4 |
+  |Missing|           |        |           |          |          |         |
+  +-------+-----------+--------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
+  | Total |           |        |           |          |          |       7 |
+  +-------+-----------+--------+-----------+----------+----------+---------+
+
+  +---------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
+  | Detail. |                        Bengal Sepoys.                        |
+  +---------+------------+---------+----------+--------+---------+---------+
+  |         |Lieutenants.|Jemedars.|Haveldars.|Naigues.|Drummers.|Privates.|
+  +---------+------------+---------+----------+--------+---------+---------+
+  |Killed   |            |         |        1 |      1 |       1 |       9 |
+  |Wounded  |            |         |        1 |      1 |         |      27 |
+  |Missing  |            |         |        1 |        |         |      12 |
+  +---------+------------+---------+----------+--------+---------+---------+
+  |  Total  |            |         |        3 |      2 |       1 |      48 |
+  +---------+------------+---------+----------+--------+---------+---------+
+
+N.B.--Owing to the great desertion (during the latter part of the march)
+amongst the Coolies and Pioneers, the amount of their killed and wounded
+could never be ascertained; but there is every reason to believe it was
+very considerable.
+
+Having now related the whole of the circumstances which attended the
+detachment I had the honour to command during its march to Candy and in
+its retreat, I must still trespass on the attention of my readers to
+make a few observations connected with the subject.
+
+With respect to the policy or expediency of invading the Candian
+territory, occupying the capital, cutting roads through the country, or
+dividing it into several governments, these are considerations, which,
+however important in their nature, do not come within the scope of my
+design. The propriety of such measures must greatly depend upon
+existing circumstances, of which the Government for the time being must
+be supposed to be the best qualified to judge. This much, however, I
+think I may venture to suggest, from some experience of the Candian
+character; that, considering that each European soldier, at his arrival
+in India, costs the nation at least £100, these objects, even in a
+financial view of the subject, might be much better attained by the
+application of a smaller sum to secure, if necessary, an influence at
+the Court of Candy.
+
+But should it be deemed more expedient to have recourse to arms as the
+best mode of maintaining and extending our ascendancy in Ceylon, I am
+not without hope that my remarks will be of service to those who may in
+future be appointed to conduct our military expeditions into the
+interior of that country. They are perhaps the more necessary, as of
+the few survivors of the last war, whose experience might be useful,
+scarcely any are now remaining in the island.
+
+What I shall first advert to, as being of most essential importance to
+our military operations, not only in Ceylon, but in every part of
+India, is the expediency of European officers learning the native
+languages.
+
+The disadvantages arising from an ignorance of the language of a people
+whom we command, or with whom we have to negotiate, have been so
+frequently exemplified in Ceylon, without an adequate remedy having
+been applied to the evil, that I think it necessary here to offer my
+sentiments on the subject.
+
+The circumstance of being obliged to carry on a conversation by means
+of an interpreter, forms an almost insuperable bar to confidential
+intercourse, or acquiring secret information. Many of the Candians are
+well disposed to communicate the information they possess, in the
+expectation of reward; but in common with the natives of every part of
+India, are unwilling to commit themselves in the presence of an
+interpreter, in whose secrecy they cannot confide, knowing that if
+betrayed, not only their own lives, but the lives of their families
+will be forfeited, and their property confiscated.
+
+The troops are also in a great measure placed in the power of the
+interpreter. Through the medium of the questions which he is
+instructed to put to the guides and spies, he is enabled to penetrate
+into the views of the commanding officer, and to betray them to the
+enemy; or, in stating their answers, he may deceive him, by altering,
+or entirely withholding, information of the greatest importance. The
+interpreter is ready enough to perceive, and to avail himself of the
+advantages of his situation. He takes care to place his own particular
+friends about the commanding officer's person. He holds a sort of
+court at the place of private residence, to which the guides and
+spies, or others who have business with the commanding officer,
+resort, in order to prepare their statements. Thus the spies, who
+ought never to know each other, get acquainted; and the advantages
+which might be derived from comparing their different accounts, are,
+from their opportunities of communication with each other, totally
+lost. The interpreter, being the immediate executive agent, at once
+gains an ascendancy over all the natives in the camp, which he not
+unfrequently abuses; and however ill he may treat them, they never
+presume to complain, it being a maxim with the natives of India never
+to complain of a man in power. In this case, also, they are deterred
+by the consideration, that the person complained against forms their
+only channel of communication with the commanding officer.
+
+When the natives know that the commanding officer understands their
+language, and that he does not make a confidant of the interpreter, who
+is generally the Modiliar,[5] they are ever ready to come forward with
+their information.
+
+          [5] In Ceylon the native chiefs of districts, and many
+          subordinate officers, have been designated Modiliars; which
+          title, at an early period of the Portuguese government of the
+          island, seems to have been peculiar to the chiefs of the
+          _military_ class; although now held by those who exercise not
+          only the command of _Lascoryns_ (the ancient soldiers of the
+          country), but various civil functions in the districts of
+          Ceylon.
+
+Of the great caution observed by the natives of India in respect to
+what they declare in public, or before interpreters, I have known some
+striking instances, wherein men have given testimonies, even upon oath,
+directly opposite to what they had previously stated to me in private
+and confidential communication; and upon being afterwards reproached
+for the contradiction, they have persisted in asserting that their
+_private statement_ was the _true_ one, the declarations which they had
+made on oath being prompted by fear of giving evidence in a public
+court, which would tend to injure the cause of one of the chiefs who
+had great power and influence in the country; that as it was uncertain
+how long I might remain in command of the district, the offended chief
+would, sooner or later, find the means of ruining the party; and that
+the consequences would not even stop here, but the children of the
+chief would continue to his children the hereditary vengeance of their
+father.
+
+A knowledge of the language also enables us to converse with the men of
+education among the natives, who are generally communicative and well
+informed, particularly with what relates to their own country--a
+species of knowledge of which we stand the most in need. It farther
+enables us to peruse the writings, and, by instructing us in their
+origin, teaches us to respect prejudices of which the Indians are
+extremely tenacious, and which we are too apt at first landing to
+despise. What great political advantages might be derived from a proper
+management of these prejudices, experience has amply shown.
+
+In a contempt of them, and in an ignorance of the country languages,
+have originated many of the greatest misfortunes which have befallen us
+in India. All officers who have served long in that country, whether in
+the King's or Company's service, must have had personal experience of
+the great advantages that are to be derived, both in respect to
+politics and military operations, from a knowledge of the languages:
+even the reputation of this knowledge will attract to an officer
+unreserved confidence in communication, and secure him from being
+deceived by false reports.
+
+In the management of the native corps, ignorance of the language is
+attended with many and great disadvantages. The officer is in that case
+obliged to employ some native soldier as an interpreter; and those of
+this class who have, in menial situations, learned to speak a little
+English, are generally the most unworthy of confidence.
+
+Men of this description, for the most part educated in the kitchens of
+Europeans, or servants in barracks or hospitals, acquire a degree of
+quickness and intelligence that renders them useful as orderlies, or in
+other capacities about the persons of European officers, who do not
+understand the country languages.
+
+On Courts-Martial, or in matters of grievance or disputes which the
+soldiers may wish to submit to their officers, their statements come
+through these men: but as a trifling bribe will incline them to either
+side, the disadvantage of being obliged to have recourse to their
+assistance is obvious.
+
+The species of influence which they acquire among the soldiers, from
+their situation, is almost always abused by them. They even assume more
+authority than the oldest native commissioned or non-commissioned
+officers, who may be men of caste and education, whose orders they not
+only frequently presume to dispute, but encourage others to do the
+same. This assumption of authority is for the most part acquiesced in,
+from the danger of complaining against a man who so frequently has it
+in his power to injure by misrepresenting the complainant to his
+officers, whose ignorance of the language leaves him at the mercy of
+his interpreter.
+
+Having pointed out the evil, I shall now endeavour to suggest the
+remedy. The officers belonging to the regular regiments of the line
+stationed in Ceylon, who are not permanently attached to the island,
+have no motive to exert themselves in applying to the languages of the
+country. In the native corps, however, we might expect to find this
+species of local knowledge. But the Ceylon regiments have been hitherto
+officered from the line, and many of the captains and field-officers
+nominated in England. They consequently, on their arrival, find
+themselves in the command of men whose language they do not understand,
+and who do not understand theirs. All communications between them are,
+of course, carried on by means of interpreters. There being no
+inducements to a permanent residence in Ceylon, either in respect to
+society, allowances, or scope for military enterprise, it is the wish
+of every officer to leave it as soon as possible. Under the present
+state of the establishment, all the exertions of the officers of the
+native corps (who can never otherwise expect to be removed), are
+directed to procure an exchange into the line; and hence frequent
+changes take place in those regiments--a circumstance which totally
+prevents their applying to the native languages, a knowledge of which
+can be useful there only.
+
+Whilst the service continues to labour under these disadvantages, the
+evil must remain in full force. It would, therefore, appear necessary
+that it should in some measure become local, like that of the East
+India Company's establishments; and that military promotion should be
+made in some measure dependent on a knowledge of the native languages.
+They would in that case consider themselves as permanently settled on
+the island, and look upon their regiments as their homes. Under such a
+plan, no officer could arrive at any important command without being
+thoroughly acquainted with the language and customs of the country. And
+the general would then find amongst his officers, in whose honour he
+could confide, every species of local knowledge of which he would stand
+in need; instead of being obliged to seek for it amongst Modiliars,
+interpreters, and native orderlies.
+
+
+_On the Dress of the Ceylon Troops._
+
+I will now beg leave to submit a few observations on the dress of our
+troops in Ceylon, which, experience has shown, is ill adapted to the
+country and species of warfare in which they are likely to be employed.
+
+In making these observation, the result of local experience, I trust I
+shall not be considered as interfering unbecomingly with the existing
+regulations of the army, the efficiency of which, so far as they relate
+to the dress and equipment of the troops acting in our distant
+colonies, may be best ascertained by those officers who have served
+with them; as one of whom (but with the utmost deference to the
+authority of men more competent to discuss and decide on the subject) I
+merely submit my opinion.
+
+Situated as England now is with her colonies, so extensive in
+themselves, so widely dispersed, and consequently embracing a variety
+of climates, it seems obvious that we must be guided in a great degree
+in the formation and dress of our troops (particularly those raised in
+the colonies), by the climate and nature of the country in which they
+are to serve, and by the description of enemy against whom they are
+most likely to contend; as well as by the character, habits, and
+prejudices of the people who compose these corps.
+
+Surely the same dress which is adapted to the snows of Canada would not
+answer in the burning plains of Hindostan; nor ought the same tactics
+that are practised in Europe, where armies are formed with numerous and
+well-appointed bodies of cavalry, and immense trains of artillery, be
+resorted to in the mountains of Ceylon, where a horse is scarcely
+known, and where the smallest piece of ordnance cannot be transported
+without the greatest difficulty.
+
+The great objects to which we should direct our attention (next to the
+health of the soldier), are a celerity of movement, and a facility of
+approaching the enemy unperceived, so as to take him by surprise.
+
+Throughout the late war the Candians always showed a disposition to
+avoid our troops in the open field, by immediately betaking themselves
+to the woods or mountains the instant they had notice of our approach,
+from whence they could keep up a galling fire on our line, or whatever
+division of our troops became, from their situation, most favourable
+for this mode of attack; and unless an opportunity presented itself of
+stealing on them unawares, we scarcely ever could boast of doing much
+execution.
+
+In a country so mountainous and woody as the interior of Ceylon, where
+the route must frequently wind through narrow and rugged defiles, or
+over heights ascended with vast labour and fatigue, it is of great
+consequence that the soldier should be freed as much as possible from
+every unnecessary incumbrance, in order to lessen the comparative
+disadvantages under which he is to act against an enemy whose only
+covering is a cloth wrapped round his loins, in the fold of which is
+deposited a cocoa-nut shell containing his gunpowder, with a few dozen
+balls, and who is, moreover, familiar with every little path by which
+he may advance or retreat. It is easy to conceive how difficult it must
+be for our troops, toiling as they are accustomed to do under heavy
+burdens, ever to come up with such an enemy but by surprise.
+
+The rays of the sun, however, reflected from the bright arms and large
+brass plates in front of the soldier's cap, together with his red
+jacket, white pantaloons, and white belts, discover him to the enemy
+from a considerable distance, and not only render any surprise by day
+impossible, but point him out as a fair object for the enemy's
+marksmen. Of the comparative disadvantages arising from our dress I had
+frequently the most striking proofs, in being able to discover any
+movement of our troops at the distance of several miles, merely by the
+glittering of their arms and appointments; whereas, though at the same
+time surrounded by thousands of the enemy, I could scarcely distinguish
+a man.
+
+In order, therefore, to remedy these disadvantages, I would in the
+first instance suggest, that, for the common musket, be substituted one
+of a lighter kind (for instance, a carabine), and that the barrel be
+stained like that of our light regiments. I would also provide every
+lock with a guard composed of skin or oilcloth, which would always
+preserve it dry and efficient. The heavy dews, which constantly fall
+during the nights, have the same effect on the foliage of the woods as
+that produced by violent rain; thus it frequently happened, that, from
+the soldier's being incapable of securing his arms or the lock from the
+wet, when marching through a close country, his musket became utterly
+unserviceable; while the enemy, who invariably adopted the above plan,
+were generally enabled (even during a heavy rain) to keep up a constant
+fire from the midst of their woods, where it was impossible for us to
+penetrate, in order to dislodge them with the bayonet.
+
+With respect to the colour of the uniform, it ought to assimilate as
+much as possible to that of the surrounding objects. I would,
+therefore, recommend a green or grey jacket and trowsers, black belts,
+with a hat free from all those ornaments now in use, which serve to
+draw on the soldier the fire of the enemy.
+
+The present cap appears, indeed, but ill calculated for the Ceylon
+troops; as, in addition to the warmth that a large heated brass plate
+must naturally communicate to the head, all the lower part of the
+soldier's head and neck is entirely exposed to the sun and rain; and
+there being nothing to convey the water that falls on the cap over the
+cape of his jacket, it consequently runs down his back, and he finds
+himself wet to the skin long before it has penetrated his great coat.
+Thus circumstanced, he becomes cold and chilly, if not in continual
+motion; and when on duty at night, or without the means of procuring
+dry clothes, it must lay the foundation of many diseases, but
+particularly that known by the name of the jungle fever, which
+generally proved so fatal to our troops when serving in the interior.
+
+The glazed peak in front of the cap reflects the glare from the hot
+sand on the eyes, which for the time is unpleasant, and must in the end
+injure the sight.
+
+Some regiments adopted an entire glazed leather cap, which is assuredly
+much worse than the beaver, as it becomes in a short time infinitely
+more heated, and as soon as the soldier begins to perspire, the leather
+becomes moist, and attaches itself so closely to the head as to prevent
+all circulation of fresh air within; the confined air then, from the
+heat occasioned by the warm leather as well as that of the man's head,
+soon becomes many degrees warmer than the atmosphere.
+
+These caps were introduced in Ceylon a short time before I left it; and
+I always found that the sentries and soldiers, who were for any time
+exposed to the sun, complained of headaches, which they attributed to
+the cap. I can speak from my own experience, that even at a common
+field-day, though in the morning, before the sun became very powerful,
+I was regularly attacked by a violent headache, which generally
+continued during the remainder of the day; though, after a much longer
+exposure to the sun, even during the heat of the day (when in a round
+hat), I felt little inconvenience.
+
+Another disadvantage attending these caps is, that from the great
+trouble of cleaning them, the soldiers were in the habit, when out of
+sight of the officers, to take them from their heads, and carry them in
+a cloth, to prevent the varnish from being melted by the sun or injured
+by the rain; thus rather choosing to expose their bare heads to the
+weather than undergo the labour of repolishing them.
+
+White, from its being the greatest non-conductor of heat, is therefore
+best calculated for warm climates.
+
+The following extract from Dr. Franklin, on the subject of heat, may
+not perhaps prove uninteresting or useless:--
+
+    "As to the different degrees of heat imbibed from the sun's rays by
+    cloths of different colours, since I cannot find the notes of my
+    experiment to send you, I must give it as well as I can from
+    memory.
+
+    "But first let me mention an experiment you may easily make
+    yourself. Walk but a quarter of an hour in your garden when the sun
+    shines, with a part of your dress white, and a part black; then
+    apply your hand to them alternately, and you will find a very great
+    difference in their warmth. The black will be quite hot to the
+    touch, the white still cool.
+
+    "Another. Try to fire the paper with a burning glass. If it is
+    white, you will not easily burn it, but if you bring the focus to a
+    black spot, or upon letters, written or printed, the paper will
+    immediately be on fire under the letters.
+
+    "Thus fullers and dyers find black cloths, of equal thickness with
+    white ones, and hung out equally wet, dry in the sun much sooner
+    than the white, being more readily heated by the sun's rays. It is
+    the same before a fire; the heat of which sooner penetrates black
+    stockings than white ones, and so is apt sooner to burn a man's
+    shins. Also beer much sooner warms in a black mug set before the
+    fire, than in a white one, or in a bright silver tankard.
+
+    "My experiment was this. I took a number of little square pieces of
+    broadcloth from a tailor's pattern-card, of various colours. There
+    were black, deep blue, lighter blue, green, purple, red, yellow,
+    white, and other colours, or shades of colours. I laid them all out
+    upon the snow in a bright sunshiny morning. In a few hours (I
+    cannot now be exact as to the time) the black, being warmed most by
+    the sun, was sunk so low as to be below the stroke of the sun's
+    rays; the dark blue almost as low, the lighter blue not quite so
+    much as the dark, the other colours less as they were lighter; and
+    the quite white remained on the surface of the snow, not having
+    entered it at all.
+
+    "What signifies philosophy that does not apply to some use? May we
+    not learn from hence, that black clothes are not so fit to wear in
+    a hot sunny climate or season as white ones; because in such
+    clothes the body is more heated by the sun when we walk abroad, and
+    are at the same time heated by the exercise, which double heat is
+    apt to bring on putrid dangerous fevers? That soldiers and seamen,
+    who must march and labour in the sun, should in the East or West
+    Indies have an uniform of white? That summer hats, for men or
+    women, should be white, as repelling that heat which gives
+    headaches to many, and to some the fatal stroke that the French
+    call the _coup de soleil_? That the ladies' summer hats, however,
+    should be lined with black, as not reverberating on their faces
+    those rays which are reflected upwards from the earth or water?
+    That the putting a white cap of paper or linen _within_ the
+    crown of a black hat, as some do, will not keep out the heat,
+    though it would if placed _without_? That fruit-walls being
+    blacked, may receive so much heat from the sun in the day-time, as
+    to continue warm in some degree through the night, and thereby
+    preserve the fruit from frosts, or forward its growth?--with sundry
+    other particulars of less or greater importance, that will occur
+    from time to time to attentive minds?"
+
+But it might be objected to in Ceylon, as producing the very evils I
+would endeavour to correct, that of rendering the soldier too
+conspicuous. I would recommend, then, a light brown hat, with a brim
+sufficiently broad to protect the lower part of the head and neck
+against the sun or rain, and also to conduct the water over the cape of
+the jacket, without being too large to interfere with the perfect use
+of the musket; the under part of the brim to be green, as a relief to
+the eyes.
+
+It might also be advisable to have the hat a slight degree larger than
+the head, to allow of a pad between it and the forehead, for the
+purpose of leaving an open space round the temples to admit of a free
+circulation of air.
+
+This kind of hat might appear to some unbecoming; but we must
+recollect, that the health and comfort of the soldier should be our
+first consideration.
+
+
+_Of the Carriage of Baggage and Stores._
+
+There is nothing that embarrasses more the operations of our Ceylon
+forces than the carriage of baggage and stores.
+
+The general mode of conveyance is either by bullocks or Coolies.
+Elephants have been also used; but I do not think them well calculated
+for such a service on this island. Their movements are slow; they are
+soon fatigued; and, unless long accustomed to the sound, easily alarmed
+at the firing. They are a good mark for the enemy, and when wounded apt
+to become unmanageable; in which case the march may even be wholly
+stopped, as one of these animals, with his load, will completely fill
+up a narrow pass. When exasperated, the Coolies are afraid to approach
+him. If his wounds are such as to prevent his proceeding, his load is
+generally obliged to be left behind; a loss that is much more felt than
+that of the loads of a few Coolies.
+
+In the choice between bullocks and Coolies, when either can be had, we
+must be guided by the nature of the expedition upon which the troops
+are to be employed. If the detachment be large, and likely to remain
+long in the interior, bullocks are preferable, because their keep will
+not diminish the stores, whilst the Coolies would soon eat up their own
+loads.
+
+The bullocks are of two sorts. They are either the immediate property
+of Government, or belonging to the inhabitants, and are furnished by
+the different villages upon requisition. In the latter case, it is
+always desirable that the proprietors should have charge of them, and
+be obliged to carry their bags and saddles along with them. The cattle
+will thus be taken care of, the loads properly balanced, and their
+backs preserved sound.
+
+The bullocks which are the property of Government are usually given in
+charge to Lascars, or common Coolies, who, having no particular
+interest in their preservation, are careless in putting on their loads,
+and neglect to put cloths under them. Thus in a few days the poor
+animals' backs are dreadfully galled; and, if the greatest care be not
+taken, their sores fester, and are filled with maggots: notwithstanding
+which, the drivers will continue to load them, with the greatest
+indifference. They will also, in order to save themselves the trouble
+of looking after their cattle, frequently fasten seven or eight of them
+to a log of wood, by way of security, which, by preventing them from
+grazing in a manner sufficient for their support, soon reduces them to
+a state wholly unfit for any kind of service.
+
+In order to prevent these inconveniences, it would be advisable to put
+the bullocks in several small divisions, each under the care of a
+Congany or Tindal, who should be answerable for the treatment of the
+bullocks of his divisions; and experienced drivers, accustomed to the
+care of cattle and to load them properly, should be employed. It would
+be also desirable that some trustworthy non-commissioned officer should
+be directed to examine the backs of the cattle daily, and to see that
+their loads are properly adjusted.
+
+If, on the other hand, the detachment be small, and only intended for
+an incursion for a few days into the enemy's country, when everything
+will depend upon rapidity of movement, bullocks will not be found to
+answer; their pace is much too slow for such operations, and it is
+almost impossible to get them on by night. Coolies alone will here
+answer the purpose; and with them a great deal of management is
+necessary. The common mode of making up their loads in gunny bags, used
+for holding rice on shipboard and in stores, is liable to two
+objections.
+
+1st.--They afford no defence against the weather, the rain penetrating
+the bags, and mildewing the rice.
+
+2ndly.--The cloth of which the bags are made is very coarse, and badly
+sewed; and the rice consequently makes its way through the interstices.
+The Coolies, also, nothing reluctant to diminish their burdens, will
+often widen the seams. Thus the route of a detachment may frequently be
+traced for several miles by the grain strewed on the road.
+
+This waste may in some measure be prevented by doubling the bags. But
+there is nothing equal to the common bags made of mats, which the
+natives use for their _pingoes_, or loads; they not only prevent
+waste, but keep the rice long dry.
+
+The Coolies frequently plunder their loads; an evil which it is not
+easy to remedy, as by slipping into the woods unperceived, the Coolie
+can take out of his gunny bag as much rice as he chooses, and, having
+concealed it in his cloth, returns to his comrades without having been
+missed.
+
+The best method of preventing this waste appears to be this. Let the
+quantity of rice sufficient to load all his people be served out to
+each Congany, for which he is to be held responsible; and let him be
+punished in case of any remarkable defalcation, making a proper
+allowance for inevitable wastage. He is the only man capable of
+checking their thefts. But it is necessary to keep a good look-out on
+the Congany himself, as it is a common practice among the Conganies to
+sell the rice entrusted to their care.
+
+The same precautions are necessary with regard to the bullock drivers.
+Here, too, the bags used by the natives should be employed.
+
+To persons not accustomed to the species of service which I have been
+describing, these observations may appear trivial. But they will think
+otherwise, when they consider that we are speaking of a country in
+which, if the stock of provisions with which a detachment or an army
+sets out is either wasted or expended prematurely, it is for the most
+part impossible to procure a fresh supply. A Commanding Officer, who
+should unwisely contemn these precautions, might find himself in the
+disgraceful and dangerous predicament of discovering, when he expected
+to have provisions enough left for twenty days, that his stock, having
+been reduced by plunder or neglect, could not last beyond half the
+period.
+
+By these circumstances alone, after having incurred considerable
+expense towards an expedition, the whole enterprise might be
+frustrated, and the lives of many valuable soldiers sacrificed.
+
+
+_Guides._
+
+The necessity of experienced guides, so great in all military
+operations, is more particularly urgent in a country like the interior
+of Ceylon, intricate in its own nature, and to the knowledge of which
+we have no access by the usual means of maps.
+
+The difficulty of procuring good guides is very great. There are, it is
+true, always men ready to undertake for hire the task of conducting our
+troops through the Candian country; but these are either Candian
+emigrants, who have settled in our possessions, or Lubbies.[6] These
+persons are in general perfectly well acquainted with the common paths
+that lead from one village to another, and, in consequence, imagine
+themselves qualified to fulfil the office of guides. This might, no
+doubt, be the case, were our troops always to march in daylight, and by
+these paths only. But as circumstances often require that parties
+should be sent in various directions about the country, and
+particularly at night, the most favourable time for attacking the
+enemy, in such cases, the Lubbies, as they only know the high-roads,
+can give little or no assistance; and it is seldom that natives, even
+of the spot on which the operations are to be conducted, are
+sufficiently acquainted with all the paths and turnings in the forests,
+to enable them to conduct troops through them at night. In these thick
+forests it is so dark that, even in the brightest moonlight, it is
+extremely difficult, and often impossible, for one not perfectly
+acquainted with the track to discern the footpath.
+
+          [6] A sect of Mohammedans, supposed to be the descendants of
+          Arab traders, who, at a remote period, mixed with the natives
+          of India, and settled chiefly on the coasts of Malabar and
+          Coromandel. They conduct the chief interior trade of Ceylon,
+          and much of that with the neighbouring coasts. They are
+          considered by the other Mohammedans as a degenerate race, and
+          their character in India bears a near resemblance to that of
+          the _Jews_ in Europe.
+
+The indolence of the Cingalese seldom allowing of their clearing away
+any extent of ground, and the rapidity of vegetation, are other
+circumstances which increase the difficulty. It is the practice of the
+inhabitants of each village to join once a-year, for the purpose of
+cutting away the trees for a considerable extent. After they have
+remained for some time on the ground till they are dry, they set them
+on fire, and burn all the branches and light wood, leaving the stumps,
+which they never root up, as well as the trunks, untouched. This
+process in some measure clears the ground, which is then hoed, and sown
+with what is called dry grain. This ground is called by the natives
+_Chanass_. It is found that soil which has been manured by the leaves
+rotting upon it for thirty or forty, or, perhaps, a hundred years, and
+by the ashes of the burnt wood, yields an excellent crop. It is seldom
+sown above one season, being allowed the year following to run to wood,
+and fresh spots successively cleared away. Thus, in the course of two
+or three years, the face of the country is much changed; and a guide,
+who expects to traverse miles of forest, finds himself all at once in a
+large chanass. Here the ground is interspersed with stumps, and strewed
+with trunks of trees, through which it is extremely difficult to march
+by night. The guide may generally discern the borders of the forest on
+the opposite side; but, the paths having been effaced by cultivation,
+he can seldom know at what part to enter. Afraid to confess his
+ignorance, he goes on entangling the party more and more in the forest,
+where they wander about all night, finding themselves in the morning,
+perhaps, many miles distant from the post which was to have been
+surprised.
+
+Neither can any advantage be derived in such situations from a compass.
+It being impossible to march in a direct line through a thick forest,
+intersected in many places by rivers and swamps, it is by the paths
+alone that we must be directed. On such occasions, an officer sent to
+surprise a post cannot be supposed to find his way to it by working a
+traverse course.
+
+It may also often happen that the guide is in the pay of the enemy, and
+may first entangle the troops in the forest, and then leave them. It
+is, therefore, always proper to have him fastened to one of the
+soldiers. But admitting that the man has no evil intention, it must be
+extremely difficult for him, from the circumstances stated, to conduct
+troops properly to the place of their destination.
+
+Seeing, then, how much depends, particularly in night enterprises, on
+the experience and fidelity of the guides, it behoves us to spare
+neither pains in procuring proper persons, nor expense in rewarding
+those who faithfully discharge their duty.
+
+
+_Modiliars._
+
+Having, in the former part of this work, given some striking instances
+of treachery on the part of the Modiliars, it is but justice to declare
+that it was not meant to convey a general censure on that body. On the
+contrary, I know there are now in Ceylon some men in that capacity who
+have served the Dutch and English Governments with fidelity, and enjoy
+the reputation of high honour; and I have myself derived the greatest
+assistance from the zeal and exertions of the Modiliar of Batticolo,
+not only whilst in command of that district, but during the whole of my
+march to and from Candy.
+
+I would take the liberty to recommend as the best line of policy, that
+our officers, whilst, having the fate of Constantine De Sáa and his
+army in their recollection, they guard against reposing too blind a
+confidence in the Modiliars, should carefully conceal from them the
+doubts which may be entertained of their fidelity, and treat them on
+all occasions with respect; these people being extremely sensible to
+slights, and particularly in the presence of their countrymen.
+
+
+_Coolies._
+
+I think it right here to call the attention of the officer to the
+situation of a class of men, essential to all our military operations
+in India, without whose aid, indeed, we cannot make the smallest
+movement. I mean the Coolies. Besides the humanity due to them as
+fellow-creatures, policy requires that this class of men should be
+treated with attention and kindness. Hitherto I am sorry to say that
+they have met with too little consideration in all our military
+operations.
+
+It will be proper, on the line of march, to allow time to the Coolies,
+who are not provided with Talipot leaves, and even to encourage them to
+construct huts or wigwams with branches and leaves. By this means their
+healths might be in a great measure preserved, and, what is of no less
+importance, they would be more reconciled to the service.
+
+It is also essential that the commander of the troops should
+superintend the payment of the Coolies in person, or by an European
+officer; as, when the payment is left to their native chiefs, they are
+frequently defrauded, even to half the amount of their pay, and the
+odium thrown on the commanding officer.
+
+In issuing or explaining orders either to the common Coolies, or their
+Chiefs, we cannot be too explicit. Many of the interpreters understand
+English but imperfectly; and when they do not comprehend the order,
+rather than confess their ignorance by asking for an explanation, they
+will interpret it according to their own notions of what is meant.
+Instances of blunders daily occur from this source. Similar mistakes
+may also arise from Europeans overrating their own knowledge of the
+native languages.
+
+Attention and kindness to the natives, and the exercise of justice
+towards them, will secure their confidence and affection, which must
+prove of great advantage to the officers acting with them individually,
+and to the country at large.
+
+Whilst we are lords of the coast, and every person bows to our will,
+these considerations are of the less importance. But if it should be
+our fate to contend for our Eastern possessions, against a powerful,
+active, and intriguing European enemy, it is then we shall derive
+advantages from the confidence and attachment of the natives.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+Corporal Barnsley's Deposition,
+
+AS REFERRED TO, PAGE 31;
+
+_Made June 27, 1803, before Captain Madge and Captain Pierce, of the
+19th Regiment, and Assistant-Surgeon Gillespie, of the Malay Regiment._
+
+
+    "That on the 23rd June, a little before daylight, the Candians
+    commenced an attack on the hill guard, in rear of the palace, on
+    which was a 3-pounder, and took it. That soon after a strong body
+    of the enemy, headed by a Malay chief, made a charge on the eastern
+    barrier, to endeavour to take a gun which was there; they were
+    opposed by Lieutenant Blakeney, at the head of a few men of the
+    19th, who himself fell in the conflict. That an incessant fire was
+    kept up until two o'clock in the day, when, as the enemy was
+    endeavouring to break in at the rear of the palace, Major Davie
+    hung out a flag of truce, offering to surrender the town, on being
+    permitted to march out with his arms. This they consented to; and
+    Major Davie, after spiking the guns, marched out about five
+    o'clock, and proceeded to Wattapologo, where he was obliged to halt
+    all night, being unable to pass the river. Next morning the
+    Candians sent out four Modiliars to propose, that if Major Davie
+    would give up Boodoo Sawmy (the King whom Governor North placed on
+    the throne of Candy, and who retreated with our troops), they would
+    assist him with boats and rafts to cross the river; on which Major
+    Davie gave him up by his own consent. After which another message
+    was sent, that there were plenty of bamboos and other materials at
+    hand, and they might make rafts for themselves. All that day was
+    employed in endeavouring to make rafts, but they could not succeed
+    in getting a rope across the river, owing to the depth and rapidity
+    of the current; but next day, about ten o'clock, Captain Humphreys,
+    of the Bengal artillery, came and reported that he had succeeded in
+    getting a rope across. About this time some of the Malays and gun
+    Lascars began to desert in small parties; upon which Major Davie
+    ordered the remainder to ground their arms and follow him, with all
+    the officers, back to the garrison. As soon as they had proceeded
+    two hundred yards on their way thither, the Candians stopped them,
+    took the officers on one side, and kept them prisoners for
+    half-an-hour; when this declarent says, he heard shot in the
+    direction of the place where the officers were prisoners, and which
+    was followed by their massacre. That immediately after, they took
+    the European soldiers two by two, and leading them a few yards
+    along the road, knocked them down with the butt end of their
+    pieces, and beat out their brains. That this declarent was also led
+    out with his comrade, and received a blow under the right ear, and
+    a wound on the back of his neck, which the enemy conceiving to be
+    sufficient, then proceeded to the murder of the remainder. That he
+    lay as dead for some time, and in that situation distinctly heard
+    the firing, which he supposes to be the putting them all to death.
+    That he took the opportunity, while this was doing, of crawling
+    into the jungle,[7] where he lay till night, and then proceeded to
+    Fort Macdowal to give the information to Captain Madge.
+
+    (Signed)
+
+    "GEORGE X BARNSLEY,
+    "Corporal, 19th Regiment."
+
+          [7] Forest.
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
+
+Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained
+as printed.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44408 ***
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+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44408 ***</div>
 <h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Narrative of the Operations of a Detachment
 in an Expedition to Candy, in the Island of Ceylon, in the Year 1804, by
 Arthur Johnston</h1>
-<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
-almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
-re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
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-<p>Title: Narrative of the Operations of a Detachment in an Expedition to Candy, in the Island of Ceylon, in the Year 1804</p>
-<p>       With Some Observations on the Previous Campaign, and on the Nature of Candian Warfare, etc., etc., etc.</p>
-<p>Author: Arthur Johnston</p>
-<p>Release Date: December 11, 2013  [eBook #44408]</p>
-<p>Language: English</p>
-<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p>
-<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF A DETACHMENT IN AN EXPEDITION TO CANDY, IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, IN THE YEAR 1804***</p>
-<br><br><center><h4>E-text prepared by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br>
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-<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF A DETACHMENT IN AN EXPEDITION TO CANDY, IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, IN THE YEAR 1804***</p>
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+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44408 ***</div>
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