troops in executing orders, the enemy had little to boast from their repeated incursions.

A detachment, together with a force from Bengal, arriving at this critical moment, parties were instantly employed to take the field.

By the consummate bravery of our troops, and the skill of their leaders, our desperate situation was soon improved; the Candians were driven from our possessions, with great slaughter, and the revolted natives brought back to their allegiance.

The restless disposition of the enemy was not, however, as yet suppressed. A spirit of retaliation for the severe losses they had experi enced, spurred them on to make another desperate attempt at

success.

Early in the month of September, the king of Candy, at the head of the most numerous force he, had been able to collect throughout bis dominions, burst into our settlements at Settivacca, and attacked the fortress at Hangwelle. This post is about eighteen English miles from the city, and was garrisoned with 50 Europeans, 160 sepoys, and 17 gun-lascars.

The enemy stormed the fort on the third, fourth, and sixth; but on the latter day the battle was so bloody and decisive, as to put a stop to any further attempt.

After a severe contest of an hour and an half, the Candians were driven back with immense slaughter.

The king fled, with precipitation, at the commencement of the action. Being overtaken by Leuke, dessam of the four Corles, and Maha-Mohittiar, or chief secretary of state, he was so enragad at their pusillanimity, that he immediately ordered their heads to be struck off, and left their dead bodies, unburied, in a ravine, near Reyborg.

On this affair our loss was only 1 private of the 65th regiment, wounded; and our arms were reinforced by 62 malays, and 150 ganlascars, part of those which had been detained at Candy.

The following is the return of the artillery, &c, taken, Two six-pounders, 1 three-pounder, 120 English firelock, a number of Cingalese arms and accoutrements, and the Royal Standard.

The loss sustained by the Candians in this defeat, particuy in the lascars, on whom they very much depended, has been of the most beneficial consequence to our cause.

This very decisive victory, so fatal to the long-concerted projects of the enemy, was conducted by captain William Pollock, of his Majesty's 51st regiment, who had that day been sent to take the command, vice lieutenant Mercer, whose ill health made the change necessary. It is, however, proper to observe, that the latter officer had, previously, defended the post with great vigor and ability.

On the day following the battle captain Pollock was reinforced by 50 Europeans and 80 sepoys, under the command of captain Hankey.

Captain Pollock and his brave party, thus recruited and encouraged by their late brilliant success, marched forwards on the 9th towards the Candian frontier.

This detachment was composed of captain Hankey, lieutenants Mercer and Veagh, of the infantry, and Worsley, of the royal artillery, 80 rank and file Europeans, 70 rank and file sepoys, with two small cohorns, and a party of Bengal lascars.

The enemy were posted at the strong hold of Kolloagille, under the command of the new dissuva of the four Corles. Having attacked them with impetuosity, they fled, leaving the passage of the Reyborg free for our own troops, who passed, and halted, for the night, at Aloet Ambulacer, about six English miles distant from Hangwelle.

On the 10th, captain Pollock proceeded to Poora-pettia, a post of considerable strength; but the enemy having evacuated, he marched on to Avisavella, and crossing the river, entered the Candian territory at Sittivacca.

Pursuing his object, he drove the enemy from the strong battery of Apoola-Pitty, where he halted that night, and the next day, in expectation of a reinforcement, under the command of captain Buchan, of his majesty's Ceylon north regiment, which had been previously detached from Negumbo, through the Hina and Happitig and Corles, to join him at Menegodde, on the opposite side of the colony of Gungee.

Captain Buchan on his route was joined by a party of 36 Mallays, (of those taken at Candy) who had deserted from the army of the second adigar, then on his march to join the king at Rounalle.

On the 12th, captain Pollock's detachment, having reached Or

ganda,

ganda, about five English miles from Apoola-Pitty, fell in with the remains of the army that had been defeated at Hangwelle.

Here an obstinate resistance was made to our progress; but the Candians, having 26 of their men killed in the battery, they fled, and eur detachment proceeded.

Advancing, our party found all the passes crowded with Candians, who had erected strong batteries for their defence. But all these difficulties served only to inspire our troops with new spirits. The enemy were driven from their strong holds, with prodigious slaughter, though only one lascar was wounded in our party.

Arriving at the banks of the river, our little army had to contend with the most furious opposition. The opposite bank was lined with batteries, mounting several pieces of cannon, from which the enemy kept up a heavy fire of round and grape shot, together with a constant fire of musquetry.

Captain Pollock, being altogether unacquainted with the depth of the stream, he was compelled to come to a halt, but a ford being soon after discovered, the advance rushed impetuously forward, led by captain Hankey and lieutenant Mercer; captain Buchan, at the same moment, appeared with his party on the right flank of the enemy, who fled in all directions.

The following is the return of ordnance stores taken at Rowanelly : Three light six-pounders, mounted on travelling carriages; one light three-pounder, ditto, ditto; two 4-three-quarter inch mortars. with beds; 76 six-pounder flannel cartridges, with round shot fixed to wood bottoms; 20 three-pounder flannel cartridges, with case shot fixed to wood bottoms; 50 4-five-eighth inch mortar shells; 150 iron round shot from 1 to two pounders; three six-pounder spunges ; three ditto ladles; three ditto wadhooks; 57 six-pounder tubes; 86 port-fires; 70 hand grenades; some camp equipage, and an elephant. Captain Pollock speaks in high terms of the essential assistance afforded him by captain Buchan, who, with his detachment, has surmounted every difficulty from the roads, and materially contributed to the victory they obtained.

The two detachments took up their quarters in the palace for the night; and, finding the enemy had retreated into the interior of their territory, on the following morning orders were given to burn the palace and the whole of the village, which was completely effected

before

before noon, when captain Pollock marched back to Hacywebe. Our loss, on this occasion, was incredibly small; at Kalova Gille, two European soldiers wounded, and at Organda, two gun-lascars

wounded.

The village of Rouanelle is esteemed the most populous and commercial in the kingdom of Candy. All the stores, magazines, ammunition, artillery, and provision, which the king had prepared for his late unsuccessful expedition, fell into our hands, and were removed: but a very noble palace, which he had lately erected for his residence, in the most sumptuous style of Indian magnificence, was burned down to the ground; together with 100 houses belonging to the inhabitants.

The enemy, during their early operations in this month, succeeded in cutting off the communications between Columbo and Matura ; the intermediate provinces having revolted, by which event the posts were prevented from travelling to the coast of Coromandel.

To remove so serious an evil, his excellency the governor immediately dispatched a force to Matura, under the command of captain Herbert Beaver, whose former services recommended him for this important command. He accordingly stormed the head quarters of the Candians, at Dindpitten, on the 29th; and with such success, that their precipitate retreat alone prevented an almost universal slaughter of their troops. The districts of Putlang and Chilan were, about the same time, restored to order and tranquillity, by the vigorous exertions of major Evans and captain Blackall. The district of Galle was evacuated by the Candians, and the inhabitants so effectually came back to their allegiance, that they invited the renters to return, and collect their rents..

Matura was likewise nearly reduced to obedience; the regular communication with Tangalle re-opened; and Hambangtotte reported not to have been evacuated by us.

No mail, however, had as yet arrived from Manaur, but every thing was in train for the establishment of the post stations.

As the advantages appeared to have resulted from the glorious defence of Hangwelle, on the 6th, and have been attended with the happiest effect, the conduct of captain Pollock, as well as the officers and privates under his command, have received from the government of Ceylon every public mark of their warmest approbation.

The

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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