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The indignation of the king of Candy seems to have manifested itself with a singular degree of cruelty against his own subjects, a number of carcasses, without heads, having floated down the river by Hangwelle, which were afterwards buried, with the multitudes of slain, by our coolies.

In consequence of this decided success the inhabitants of the provinces returned to their former allegiance; and so rapid was the change, that when captain Shortt, of his majesty's 51st regiment, arrived at Billigham, whither he had been detached to punish the rebellious leaders of this confederacy, he was received by the inhabitants with every testimony of submission and respect, and found that the most culpable among them had been driven from the place. Captain Shortt observed every degree of mildness and humanity in the execution of his orders, and this populous village is again restored to perfect tranquillity.

The enemy suffered equal discomfiture in the neighbourhood of Chilow, where they had repeatedly, and in great force, attacked a small garrison of sepoys and invalid malays, who made a most spirited resistance, under the orders of Mr. W. E. Campbell, agent of revenue, and Mr. J. Deane, the provincial judge.

The general orders on this occasion contain the strongest expressions of approbation of the meritorious conduct of those officers and gentlemen, and particularly point at the services of captain Beaven, to whom, and to his detachment, public thanks were directed to be given.

These orders are also extremely flattering to a native officer, named Mahamed Alley Ibrahim, lieutenant of his majesty's Ceylon native infantry, who having, with a small party, attacked a numerous army of Candians assembled near Chilow, succeeded in repulsing them.

The governor concludes with desiring his acceptance of a sword, and ordered an allowance of horse money to be granted to him, in testimony of his high approbation, and an extra allowance of a month's pay to the whole of his detachment, as a reward for their bravery.

Intelligence having been received in the beginning of October, that the first adigar of Candy had assembled a very considerable force at Batooghedere, in the Saffergam Corle, with an intention to invade the British territories. Capt. Wm. Macpherson, of his majesty's 12th regiVOL. 6.

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ment, was detached from Columbo, with a party consisting of 50 Europeans, and 120 natives, to disperse his army.

This detachment left Columbo on the 6th, and after a fatiguing march through the Raygam Corle, passed the Candian territory on the 9th. Their march was afterwards opposed by the enemy, who had taken post behind two batteries; they were, however, repulsed without loss to our party; and on the 12th, capt. Macpherson arrived on the northern bank of Caloo Gunja, opposite to Batooghedere.

Here the rapidity of the stream prevented our passing over, and we had one private of the 51st regiment wounded from the opposite side. The adigar in the mean time had fled towards the province of Dova, and his army dispersed. Captain Macpherson having thus executed the object of his mission, (as far as circumstances would permit) di rected his march to the northward, and proceeded through the enemy's country to Avisaville; and capt. Beaver, having heard of the grand preparations made by the Candians to capture Hambangtotte, marched on the 29th ult. with the force under his command in the Matura dis trict, to the relief of our garrison.

He arrived on the 6th, but the blockade had been previously raised by a spirited and judicious sortie, made by ensign Pendergast, accompanied by Mr. W. Price, assistant surgeon of his majesty's 12th regiment, who was accidentally on the spot.

The force of this brave garrison consisted of about 60 invalid malays, which, with unwearied perseverance, and great judgment, vigorously maintained a long blockade of the enemy, and eventually dispersed them. The last sortie they drove the Candians from their advanced batteries, who left behind them seven Cingalese guns. During the siege they were reinforced by a corporal and eight men of the royal artillery, from his majesty's frigate Wilhelmina, bound for Galle and Columbo, but which chanced to put into Hambangtotte road.

All communication had been cut off from our garrison by land, but we had secured our retreat, if necessary, by sea, his majesty's armed brig Minerva, capt. John Nicoll, being moored close in shore, and contributed materially to annoy the enemy, by keeping up a constant heavy fire.

On this occasion our troops burnt 800 houses, many of them full of paddy and areka nut, to a very large amount, upwards of 150 ammo

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nans of areka nut, the property of the first adigar, which, at a moderate computation, may be valued at 17,000 rix dollars; and also destroyed two large and well-constructed batteries, commanding the passes leading into the Jaffergam Corle, and the Raygam and Hewagam Corles.

The want of further authentic materials here obliges us to break off our narration; but it shall be resumed in our next Register.

ASIATIC

ANNUAL REGISTER;

For the Year 1804.

THE HISTORY OF INDIA.

CHAP. V:

CONTENTS.

Recapitulation of the Subjects of the third and fourth Chapters.-Relative Situation of the Dutch and English East India Companies, and of their Possessions in India, in A. D. 1619.-Causes of the Dissentions between those Companies.-Treaty of Amity between them, concluded under the Sanction of the King of England and the States-General of the United Provinces--The Dutch Governors in the Spice Islands pay little Attention to that Treaty.-Their Violation of it.-Dutch attack the Engith at Lantore and Poolaroon, burn their Towns, and put the Inhabitants to death. -The Dutch Defence of their Conduct in this Affair, and the English Reply.A. D. 1620, the English send a Fleet to the Gulph of Persia.-Portuguese attack the English Fleet, and are deteated.-Designs of the Dutch.-Relative State of the Durch and English at Amboyna.-Dutch seize the English Settlers on that Island, on the Pretext of an alleged Conspiracy.-The Charges preferred against the EngIsh, the cruel Tortures inflicted on them to extort Confession, their Condemnation and Execution.-The Opprobrium which this Action cast on the Dutch Nation.Dutch Company's Defence.-The Reply of the English Company.-General Inference.

THE last two chapters brought

down the general narrative of our History to the year 1619. In the first of those chapters we gave an abstract of the Constitution of the Mozul Empire, as it existed under the dominion of Akbar, and de-.. scribed the civil and military system established by that distinguished prince; we surveyed the state of India at large, with regard to

VOL. VI.

politics, and to internal as well as

foreign commerce, at the period when the trade with England commenced; and we gave an account of the origin of the English East. India Company, of the arguments that were urged both for and against the exclusive privilege with which they were invested, and of. the advancement of their intercourse with India, till the splendid

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embassy

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