No. 50.-— 1899.] VAN ECK'S KANDYAN expedition. 41 



Lieutenant-Colonel ordered the army to encamp at Tillia- 

 gonne during this affair with the enemy, and Major Van 

 WezelyWiih the reserve corps, held the same quarter behind the 

 hill of Kornagalle. But as everything had turned out accord- 

 ing to our wish in regard to the advance guard, he was ordered 

 on the receipt of a letter from the Lieutenant-Colonel to 

 His Excellency the Governor to turn back again at 5 P.M. to 

 the encampment at Pidroewelle. 



On Thursday, the 7th, at 2.30 P.M., His Excellency the 

 Governor and also Major Van Wezel set out with the rest 

 of the army from Pidroewelle and arrived at 6.30 P.M. at 

 Tilliagonne. The encamped army, when passing along at 

 Kornagalle, observed on an unusually large granite rock a 

 hewn gate leading into a cave, whither, according to common 

 report, the king comes every year to perform his service of 

 offerings. And not far from the same rock was seen a life- 

 size image, skilfully carved, seated in a Heathen temple, 

 with the legs crossed one over the other, and at the doorposts 

 were two beautifully carved stone lions. 



On Saturday, the 9th, at about 3.30 P.M., the Lieutenant- 

 Colonel marched forth out of our camp with a force of 

 1,800 men with the intention of undertaking the attack 

 against the enemy towards morning, and in the meantime 

 of halting that night upon Periekondemalle. 



On Sunday, the 10th, towards midday, there appeared at 

 our camp a runaway young slave of the late Predikant 

 Pothen, who had concealed himself for the past four years 

 in Kandie. He reported that the king had fled from his 

 palace, and the inhabitants had scattered themselves in the 

 kingdom of Kandie through fear of the flames of war, but 

 yet that there were many in favour of a defence. Shortly 

 afterwards was received the pleasant news of the good 

 success of our arms under the leadership of the Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Feber. This occurred in the following manner. 

 Early this morning our troops began to march from the 

 place where they lay encamped the previous night, and 



