198 
to consist of several coins of dif- 
ferent descriptions, household im- 
plements, and ornaments of silver, 
to the weight of about 1000lbs. 
No report had been received of 
Major Mackay’s approach with 
the 5th division, from Trincoma- 
lee, but I calculated with confi- 
dence that he must be within two 
or three days’ march. 
I had learnt by reports from 
Major-general Jackson, that, not- 
withstanding themost zealous and 
anxious exertions on his part, the 
movement of the 6th division had 
been retarded much beyond the 
appointed time, by unavoidable 
and insurmountable difficulties in 
the means of carriage : and con- 
ceiving that the strength and dis~ 
position of the troops already in 
the field would prove sufficient to 
accomplish the objects of the cam- 
paign, I addressed General Jack- 
son on the 15th instant, counter- 
manding the march of the 6th di- 
vision, and the return of any por- 
tion of it that might be on the 
march, 
It resulted from this situation 
of the troops, that the King, who 
was known to be in the Dessava- 
ny of Dombera, with a small num- 
ber of adherents, was so environ- 
ed, as to render his escape ex- 
tremely difficult, and ifhe did suc- 
ceed in getting through the pass 
leading to his last place of refuge, 
the mountains of Bintenni, Capt. 
Anderson, of the 19th regiment, 
commanding the 7th division from 
Batticaloa, would arrive at that 
point, with every probability of 
intercepting him. 
now made a claim on the 
Adikar Eheylapola, for the per- 
formance of his promise to raise 
the people of these provinces, so 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1815. 
as ‘to prevent the King’s escape, 
and to ascertain the precise place 
of his retreat, to which a detach- 
ment might be sent to make him 
prisoner. 
This task the Adikar undertook 
with alacrity and confidence, offer- 
ing to proceed to Dombera in per- 
son: dispositions were made for 
the proposed purpose, by prepar- 
ing a detachment to accompany 
the Adikar, and dispatching an- 
other to form a chain of military 
communication with Major Kel- 
ly’s force at Haugeraukette. 
Every thing being thus prepar- 
ed, the Adikar set out for Dom- 
bera, on the 16th,preceded by the 
detachment under the command 
of Lieutenant Mylins, of the Ist 
Ceylon regiment, and accompa- 
nied by Mr. D'Oyley, who, on his 
arrival at Hakkeytugala, in the 
forenoon of the same day, found 
the detachment already there, and 
learnt that they had fallen in with 
a party of the King’s people, and 
after a sharp resistance,but with- 
out loss on our side, had killed 
three and wounded one, and cap- 
tured a number of persons, two 
of whom were near relations of 
the King, and men of leading con- 
sequence, and almost all were re- 
lated or allied to him. 
This account, dated the 16th, 
reached me on the 17th, and the 
same day the prisoners were sent 
in; when conferred with, they 
claimed withearnestness their con- 
nection with the East India Com- 
pany’s Government. The prin- 
cipal man, by name Mutal Saw- 
ney, made a merit of having re- 
ceived presents and marks of dis- 
tinction from the gentlemen in 
authority under the Presidency of 
Madras. Being asked as to the 
