Chap. III.] 



THE CHIEF. 



93 



cliiefs, and the measures essential to conciliate the mass 

 of the population were calculated to increase the irrita- 

 tion of their feudal masters. 



The relation of clans-men to a Kandj^an chief liad 

 always been one of stohd bondage ; their lands, their 

 labour, and ahnost their lives, they held dependent on 

 liis vnW ; and their priests, although the doctrines of the 

 Buddhist faith repudiate distinctions of caste, taught 

 them to yield a superstitious homage to the exaltation 

 of rank.^ Sir Eobert Brownrigg, on the suppression 

 of the revolt, availed himself of the rupture of the 

 previous treaty by the chiefs to commence the emanci- 

 pation of the people from their thraldom, by hmiting 

 the appHcation of compulsory labour to the construction 

 of works of public utihty ; imposing a tithe on cultivated 

 lands, in hen of personal services ; transferring the ad- 

 ministration of justice from the native headmen to 

 European civihans, reserving to the governor the ap- 

 pointment of the headmen employed in collecting re- 

 venue ; and substituting official salaries, instead of local 

 assessment, for the remuneration of the chiefs. This 

 was the commencement of a policy, afterwards consist- 

 ently developed by furtlier changes, all tending to 

 narrow the range of feudal power, and expand the 

 influence and protection of law. The resentment pro- 

 voked by these salutary measures, led to frequent dis- 

 plays of impotent disloyalty : treasonable plots were 



A.D. 



•1817. 



^ See the Repoi-t of the Committee 

 of the House of Commons on the 

 Affairs of Ceylou in 1850. Eyidence 

 of Sir J. Emeesox Tennent, No. 

 2,786, 2,787, &c. As the priests of 

 Buddha had been from the first op- 

 posed to the substitution of British 

 rule for a native sovereignty, and as 

 they were the main instigators and 

 abettors of the Last rebellion, Sir 

 Robert Brownrigg took this oppor- 

 tunity to alter very materially the 

 terms of the obligations contracted 

 in 1815, as regards the Buddhist 



worship. ''Bv the Convention of 

 1815, the religaon of Buddha is de- 

 clai'ed inviolable, and its rites and 

 places of worship were to be main- 

 tained and profected." But by the 

 proclamation issued in 1818, the only 

 engagement undertaken by the En- 

 glish Government was, that " the 

 priests as well as tlie ceremonies of 

 the Buddhist religion, shall receive 

 the respect whicli in former times was 

 shown to them;" but by the same 

 document equal protection was " to 

 be given to all other religions." 



