NO. 47.— 1896.] CAPTURE OP LAST KANDYAN KING. 113 



off their hats, and having made great obeisance by kneeling 

 down before his majesty, untied the fetters and sought to 

 console him, asking about his health and whether he felt 

 thirsty or hungry. The king having told them that he was 

 thirsty, the Colonels desired to know whether he would take 

 any kind of tonic, to which the king replied," What drink is 

 there for me now ?" Colonel Hardy then said that they had 

 some brandy, wine, Madeira, port wine, claret, and beer, with 

 wheaten bread and other eatables. These, he continued, are 

 quite at the king's disposal. The king had only a draught 

 of about half a bottle of Madeira wine mixed with water, and 

 nothing else. The queens also drank claret wine and water. 

 Having clothed the king and the queens in white raiment, 

 they were conducted to the palanquins. In the interval the 

 king called me and said, " Come here, my son, though the 

 English might kill me, yet these queens will not be put to 

 death. I place them under your protection." I then assured 

 him that no danger could happen to his majesty. No sooner 

 were the king and the queens lifted up in their palanquins 

 than the two Colonels mounted their horses and posted 

 themselves with drawn swords at the sides of the king's 

 palanquins, while the other officers present in like manner 

 attended on the other two palanquins. Fifty mounted 

 orderlies with swords in hand placed themselves as rear and 

 front guards, while a detachment of a hundred English 

 soldiers, armed with loaded rifles at full cock, followed 

 and preceded the cavalcade and conducted the king on his 

 way with every mark of honour. 



There were no Kandyans nor Malays in the company. 

 Only a few low-country Sinhalese and militiamen were 

 present. We reached General D'Oyly's camp about sunset 

 with the king and the queens and the two Arachchige women. 

 Sir John D'Oyly accorded a very respectful reception to 

 the royal family, and comfortably lodged them for the time 

 being in a tent furnished with bedding accommodation, and 

 placed sentinels round. In a couple of days they were 

 conducted to Kandy. 



