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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIV. 



A solemn Convention* was then held at the Audience 

 Hall (now used as the District Court) in Kandy on March 2, 

 1815, between His Excellency Lieutenant-General Brown- 

 rigg, Governor of Ceylon, and the Adigars, Disawas, and other 

 principal Chiefs. The result was a formal declaration of the 

 king's deposition from the throne. Thus was put an end to 

 the Sinhalese sway over Ceylon, which had lasted for 2,357 

 years. 



The credit of capturing the king is mainly due to the un- 

 tiring efforts of Ehalapola and the Sabaragamuwa Kandyans 

 and the other Chiefs, among whom Ehalapola is the principal 

 figure. Governor Brownrigg in his despatch says :f "This 

 is an enterprize which I have no hesitation in saying could 

 not with any commonplace prudence have been entered 

 upon, except with the most credible assurances of the con- 

 curring wishes of the Chiefs and people, nor could ever 

 have been brought to a successful issue without their 

 acquiescence and aid." 



The captured king was then deportedj to Vellore in 

 Southern India, reaching North Beach on February 22,1816. 

 The Town Major, Captain Macdonald, and Mr. Marriott, were 

 introduced to him as the gentlemen ordered by the Right 

 Honourable the Governor to receive him. The king was 

 lodged in the palace formerly occupied by Futteh Hyder, 

 the eldest son of Tippoo Sultan. § He there lived in great 

 state with hosts of attendants, enjoying a rich Government 

 stipend, and died on 30th January, 1832, of an abdominal 

 disease. Coomarasamy Rajah, who recently visited Ceylon, 

 is a grand-nephew of the deceased king. 



* See Ceylon Government Gazette Extraordinary, Official bulletin, 

 March 6, 1815. 



f Dated February 25, 1815, and addressed to Earl Bathurst. 



% An interesting- account of the king's deportation, by Mr. J. B. Siebel, 

 appeared in the Orientalist. 



§ Based on a letter sent to the Chief Secretary to Government by Mr. 

 Marriott, dated Vellore, March 17, 1816. 



