421 
An Account of the War in 1803. 
I also told him, that it would be inexcusable in him and both his brothers, if they 
did not acquaint me, for the information of government, of any formidable assemblage 
of an armed force threatening this country, as government knew that they could be very 
well informed, if they meant to be loyal and faithful to government, and that if they 
gave this test of their fidelity, government would have a just sense of their services, 
and distinguish them on future occasions. He desired me to assure his Excellency the 
governor, that his brothers and he thought themselves happy to be under the protection 
of his Excellency and the British laws, and that they would never cease to give his 
Excellency every proof of it, and procure every information possible, and communicate 
it to me from time to time. He described the country to me as divided into eight cir- 
cles, known and distinguished by the respective numbers. Number eigth being the 
central, that and the numbers seven and six are the places where they have concentrated 
all their principal force, and from whence orders are continually passing to the exterior 
circles. If there be any other matters which his Excellency should wish I would do, I 
shall be happy to execute his orders. I have the honour to be, &c. 
(signed) Lieutenant O’Connell, 
Putelang, June 15, 1802. Commander. 
To Robert Arbuthnot, Esq. Chief Secretary to Government. 
Sir — I have the honour to inform you, for his Excellency the governor’s information, 
that I received, throught the channel I mentioned in a former dispatch, news from the 
Candian frontiers (which are all along lined with Malays and Candians, armed with fire- 
arms, and bows and arrows, &c.) that the most active preparations are making for defen- 
sive, if not offensive operations. From all the roads leading into their country they have 
made, to the right and left, narrow roads or paths, in diagonal directions, so as to flank 
any troops that may enter their country, and have made pits and blinds to cover them- 
selves, and to annoy the invaders, and by means of these cross roads, to secure a retreat, 
or rather a facility of advancing, in proportion to the progress of the enemy; they are 
manufacturing powder, balls, guns, and the other weapons in use among them. I am 
confidently told, that great quantities of saltpetre are conveyed to them from Columbo^ 
They have already committed hostilities on his Majesty’s subjects of Putland (Putalom) ; 
100 bullocks and buffaloes, which were sent there to bring areka nuts, &c. to Putland, 
are detained there ; fifty of those bullocks belong to the Marcars, and the remainder to 
some of the other inhabitants. I am told that there are several considerable divisions of 
them in different posts, ready to succour each other ; the accounts I have received say,. 
8000 or 9000 men in each division. I cannot yet find that they intend making any in- 
cursions into the British settlements. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) Lieutenant O’Connell. 
Putelang, June 23, 1802. 
To Robert Arbuthnot, Esq. Chief Secretary to Government . 
Sir — I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of his Excellency, that in 
