32 



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



Tamil origin, and been struck by King Elala " in commemo- 

 ration of his splendid conquests in Ceylon."* 



British Reminiscences. 



In the campaign of 1803, Dambadeniya played no unim- 

 portant part as a post of defence of the British. The troops 

 under the immediate command of Major-General Macdowall r 

 on their march to Kandy, encamped at Dambadeniya on 

 February 11, " all well and in high spirits." Cordiner 

 gives the following particulars : — 



The encampment was formed upon a hill on which paddee was grow- 

 ing, and the prospects around it were highly picturesque and delightful. 

 On each side below the camp were pleasant vallies, terminated by 

 ranges of mountains. Owing to a deficiency of supplies, chiefly 

 attributed to the death of Mr. Hamilton, Collector of the Province of 

 Colombo, the army was obliged to halt at this place for four days, A 

 small fort was erected, and a detachment of one hundred men left in 

 it under the command of Ensign Grant. The troops continued to 

 enjoy good health, although the nature of the climate did not seem 

 salutary. The heat during the day was intense and oppressive, and 

 the cold and heavy dews during the night were no less unpleasant, 

 Fahrenheit's thermometer often ranging in the course of twenty-four 

 hours from 60° to 100°. 



In a store-house at Dambadenia were found eight hundred parrahs 

 of paddee, fifty of salt, and as many of oil, said to belong to the First 

 Adigar. 



On the 25th, " Captain Buchan, of the Ceylon Infantry, marched 

 with a strong party to convey coolies laden with provisions from Dam- 

 badenia. None of the natives ventured to approach the capital ; and 

 it was not without difficulty and danger that foraging parties obtained 

 now and then small supplies ; they were often fired upon from unseen 

 quarters, and a few men were daily wounded." 



On the suggestion that " His Excellency's performing a tour in the 

 Seven Corales might have a good effect in quieting the apprehensions 

 of the natives and increasing their confidence in the protection which 

 had been promised them by the British Government, the Governor 

 Mr. North, accompanied by Mr. Robert Arbuthnot, Chief Secretary 

 of Government, Mr. Jonville, Surveyor-General, and his personal staff, 

 set out on this journey " on April 28. 



* Journal, R.A.S. C.B.. vol. I., p. 85. [The inassa, figured upside down 

 by Dr. Davy, belongs to Queen Lilavati (Sri Raja Lilavati), 1208-12 A.D. 

 circa. For the best account of these coins see Rhys Davids " On the 

 Ancient Coins and Measures of Ceylon" (Internat. Num. Orient., 1877), 

 pp. 25-33. — B., Hon. Sec.} 



