^80 CEYLON. 
from taking advantage of the disorders of that court for the 
aggrandisement of the British power and territory, it was his 
humane soUcitude for preserving the hfe of the King, which 
brought upon him the enmity of the prime minister, and was the 
immediate cause of the war. 
In February, 1799, Governor North had an interview with the 
chief Adigaar at Anisavelh, the latter having decHned coming to 
Columbo, through fear of the small-pox. The Adigaar announced 
the new King's accession, and then began to make insinuations con- 
cerning a supposed friendship between the King and the English 
Cingalese. He complained that the Government of Madras had not 
confirmed the propositions made by their embassador, Mr. Andrews, 
at his first visit to Candy. Mr. North replied, that the proposi- 
tions were indefinite, and depended upon others which the court 
of Candy had rejected ; that the treaty settled at Madras was to 
have been ratified in two years, which term being expired, it be- 
came null. The Adigaar then claimed the province of Tamblegan, 
on the sea-coast near Trincomalee, as having been promised by Mr. 
Hugh Boyd during the last war. The Governor said, that he knew 
perfectly well that no such promise had been made, and turned the 
discourse. The Adigaar then observed, that a treaty was of no use 
in preserving friendship between nations, to which the Gover- 
nor assented. He then began to abuse the Malabars, the King's 
countrymen, representing them as instruments for subverting his 
influence, and that of the Cingalese, at the court of Candy ; and he 
obscurely hinted at some plan, on which he had long meditated* 
The Governor assured him that he would use his endeavours 
to protect him from the ill offices of his enemies ; and thus the 
