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



compelled to pass the night half way and undertake the 

 affair on the following — 



Monday, the 25th, very early in the morning. And after 

 the capture of several of the fortifications of the enemy they 

 pressed closer on them, and at last arrived before Hangoe- 

 rankitti, where a considerable number of men was seen to 

 escape to the mountains with tawny elephants and with 

 palanquins. Of these last, indeed, one would have been 

 caught in the trap, if the sound that the Lieutenant-Colonel 

 ordered to be beaten on the drum in order to make the 

 men gather together, who had scattered themselves too far, 

 did not compel our men to return at once on hearing it ; 

 however one cooly was shot down from under a palanquin. 

 The king's residence was plundered and set on fire, and our 

 men began on — 



Tuesday, the 26th, their return march. But in an 

 unexpected way they were surprised by the enemy on all 

 sides and attacked, particularly the rear guard, which lost 

 at one stroke ten horsemen and also many marines, both 

 French and Javanese, among others Lieutenant Stroebel, 

 who was severely wounded. 



The Sinhalese, who in all probability had noticed the want 

 of ammunition among our men, pursued them to half an 

 hour from Kandia, and, indeed, amid such a continuous 

 heavy firing, that our men, famished and as if half dead, 

 came into the camp about an hour after midday. It was 

 then perceived that the number of our dead and wounded 

 amounted to quite over forty-eight men. 



But Lieutenant Hunnold, who had been despatched the day 

 before yesterday in the afternoon with a Sepoy and European 

 militia to a fourth palace, in which, according to report, the 

 royal family was concealed, returned again on — 



Wednesday, the 27th, at noon, without having had the 

 slightest hostile encounter, bringing the news that in the 

 above royal palace no living creature was found, and, as to 

 booty, there was nothing of consequence. 



