The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-09-19 00:00:00

CEYLON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE..

A Cingalese boy has lately collie to Kandy. who
was kept prisoner by the rebels in ‘Vells‘ee for more
than a month. He dues not appear to he above 13
or 14 years of age, but lie is very intelligent, end
his accurate recollection of all that happened from
the afar that he fell into the hoods of those nierci-
less wretches, makes his account curious and dile-
testing. He belonged to one of the persons who
attended Mr. Wilson on that mifortninsie expedi-
-00000 in which he lost his life. When Mr. Wilson was
killed this boy was not present, but lie continued
wish Lieutenant Newnan 's detachment upon their
'retreat, till after halting for the night at Illtishigat-
lease they came to Pulwitta, where they hurled the
Lascoreen, who there died of his wounds. Here
they were attacked by the Veddis, who were es4dy
r-pulsed by at few shots; hut the boy, Mr. Wilson's
Goontemie some Lascoreens
. and others, in all right, weer frightened, and ran
into the jungle. The Mithandirrin and the bocci-
%rens threw away their clothes, except • simple
cloth, and the better to disguise thinaselves smeared
themselves with mud awl water. They all gut tire
In Comerika in Ours, when the Moliandirrin was
tecognised by two of the inhabitants, who, under
/pretence of kindness and hospitality, inveigled them
_ all into a house, when they shut them upend basely
twirayed them to a party of armed Vedahv. The
Alolistidiram defended himself with great spirit, and
knocked down the two first who attempted to seize
Lim* but he was soon overpowered by siumbers. They
were all carried the next day, with their arms hound
)whind their backs, to the residence of the Preten-
der, at Oosanwolle. Hats were all round the I se
for the Vedali Guards ; and the boy, with his cum-

pinions, was brought up before • window, which
load a curtain that Raul drawn aside, and the Preteir.

der's bead appeared.
Kiwulrgeddra filohottale stood by the side of the
window, surd put to the prisoners the siurstions dir-
t sted iii • loud voice by the Pretender. The Mo.
hinelirain wits first examined ; and UllOll lii* avow-
ing, lii a noisily way, his having been with the
troop., the Pretender ordered him to be
tekesi.:twity ; he was removed to a little distance,
but full in the sight of the window, awl iiieamn
upon she ground. Kiwulegeddra then cut off his
Bair, and the poor fellow said in a jocular mas-
her, " Do you want to give illy hair to your wife
The *renter Kiwulegeildra replied, " I want none
of your family jokes, you are one of those who sent
inc to K +nay, where I was kept a long time;" and
eller killing !inn with the blows of a hammer on
his breast. lie cut tiff his head. The Hest exsmin-
eel was Goontenne Vidal's*, who wrs asked in the
Caine intoner, why lie hail sword the people in
Well not to send the Pretender any girl., tell-
ing skein lie would bring the troops upon them
from 1l dulls, if they did ? Upon his admitting
that lie had so cautioned them, he was asked, if he
tl gist it would be any sill to put Ilion to death ?
Ile replied, lie did not know whether there was soy
sin in murdering people, but lie was in their power,
suit they could do with 1 as they pleased. The
inhumes' monster, who aspires to the Kandy's'
Crown, then prescribed in a very lund voice all the
sooners which should he inflicted upon this poor
wretch, and K.wsilegeddr* presided user the per.
formance immediately in his presence. It would
shock our readers too much to detail the abomin-
able cruelties practised upon this unhappy man,
liefore droll) put au end to his sufferings; they were
all that barbarous ingenuity and savage insult
could devise, and expressly directed by the upsart
King to his infernal agent, whom he always called
Walepana Demise.
One of the prisoners was pardoned on account of
his skill in medicine. because one of she Pretender's
people was sick and h- undertook to clue I ; a
priest also. who knew him, vouched for his keiow-
ledge of medicine, and interceded for him.
The boy saw from 10 to 20 priests with the Pre-
tender.

The rest of the prisoners were ordered away, and,
as it was reported, put to death at different places,
all except the boy, who was excused on account of
hia youth. lie describes the Pretender, whom he
slice saw come out of the house in great state, to
he a young man, rather above the middle size, of a
thin visage and brown complexion, with a beard
that had been nut long ago shaven, and was about
hall an inch long, lie wore a handsome white and
gold turban, a gold bordered muslin shawl thrown
weer one shoulder, and a great bulk of very flue
White cloths round his waist. The boy was taken
tb Mammals/a, where he was kept a mouth in the
stocks, and made his escape when the people all
ran away on the approach of Capt. Juties's detach-
anent.
On New Year's Day the Kantlyan Chiefs Eyhey-
lepola, the second Adigar, the Gajensyke Namur,
the VIII Gabade Nihilist% the Ratanialostme 4,1
Darrispattoo, and awe other., were assembled in
the andience-hall. The meeting was not so foil as
sumo stone former occasions, because many of the
Chiefs ate al sent from Kandy, either in the field,
or nt tl sir sevrnl districts.
His Elterlielley the Governor soon entered the
Doll. attended by his Staff, and accompanied by
the Ilan. the Resident, the Second Commissioner,
time CounnAudout of Kaudy, and most of the OS-

errs of the garrison. Ilia Excellency than address-
ed the Chiefs in a speech to the following effect :
Kaselyao Chiefs, I have abstaleedior sew time front
calling you together, in the hope that I *mild have it hs*My
power to someone, to you, that the insurrection in the dis-
turbed provinces had been sappeessedi het l'am coaceroed
to inform yon, that owing to the severities used by the rebel
leaders to force the people into inturrertion, and in conse-
quence of barbarities committed by their orders on some of
the well-disposed inhabitants, who have solicited the protec.
lion of his Majesty's arms, te rebellion still continues in
the Veda Rolla, and Yalta Kinds of Ouva sod in Wallapane.
But the utmost exertions ore noise to rubdlir this daring re.
hellion, which, with the blessing of God, I fruit Will shortly
Ire accomplished, when those who have stood forward as the
leaders and poomoters of it, will suffer the punishment dee
to their atrocious crimes.

" I had Battered myself that the Kaudyan people, living
as they have now done, fur nearly 'twee years under the be-
nign Government of hie Majesty the sing of Great Britain,
would have been so sensible of the belittle and security
which they enjoy in their religion, persbni, and property,
that three would have been no Kandyan wicked and hist
enough to plunge his eornsry into all the horrors of war, in
the feeble attempt to set up a pretender to the Crow■, and
least of all, a .51alabar, of the family of the late King, from
whose itirnpportable tyranny and oppression the Kandyan
people were resened by the power of the Briti►h Govern.
mesa. But this vain attempt will speedily he overcome,
and the Kandyan peore may rest satisfied that Great Bri-
tain will never relinquish the Sovereignty which she has ac-
quired by she voluntary consent of the Cliiefsnsid People.
I shalt now cause so he read to you a Proclamation,
which ea the names of the traitors who have shewn
themselrro she leaders in rehellidiv, and who have is mist.
queure forfeited their lives, lands, and propel lies."
After the Proclamation had beess read in Eng-
lish by the flora. John D'Oyly, the Resident, and
interpreted to the Chiefs in Cingalese by the aid
or Malta Modiler, his Excellency the Goirernor
resumed, and concluded hi! address nearly in these
worlds :--

"This list will now he published of those traitors, who,
swayed by no other motive than the suggestions of Ihei► own
terbuleut ambition, have-plunged their country into the
miseries of civil *sr. The present rebellion is an set of
the greatest togratilude; for while every exertion has been
made to improve the condition of the people, no new tax
leas been levied, no new service has heed required. It re-
names your duly to exert your utmost efforts in aid of the
British Governisseut. t inflnenre you may possess
is your respective districts, let it be shewn by your encou-
raging the people In *rise and delieer op to condign phoisle.
silent the traitors who would mislead them to their rain. Be
assured that the British Govrrnmeat knows bow to distim
guish between a visions supporter mid a lukewarm friend or
secret foe. Favour a►td rewards shall be given to thOse whb
stand forward to d b them. 1 tell roe this, for yoor
sakes, that you may know litiforefinnil what sort of rou-
duet it is that will be remunerated with honour sad priimo-
lion. I tell it to you, for the sake of your country, which
may be the sourer restored to trangnilh►y by your loyal es-
calms*. Fur, however you may art, I have no fear fo► the
result. 1 have in my own bands by God's bkosing, ample
useine to crush this insurrection. It is humanity alone that
has hitherto prevented me from using them In their foil ex-
tent; hut if 1 am compelled, 1 will skew you that 1 hale
the power without your assistance to put this rebellion
down. And 1 will put it down."
The Chiefs listened to his Exeeliency's speech
wills great attention, but made no lomat reply.
They treated the present insurreet. as a disturb-
mice that could not be formidable, hut must soon
be quelled, as it wits not supportril by any persons
of con4equence. They spoke or it as tieing from
the dregs of the people, who would themselves ere
long put an end to it, as salt that was made (rout
water was easily dissolved by water again.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.