423 
An Account of the War in 1803 , 
I 
day to give the earliest intelligence of a measure of such importance to this district, 
which prevented major Evans’ writing ; I also mentioned the names of the six men who 
returned from Candy, and he informed me, that he left 33 men there, who would not 
be permitted then to return. I asked the men how they were permitted to leave the 
country ? They said they obtained permission to come to carry money or aid to the others, 
and that they would return there to relieve them, as well as to endeavour to get 
their cattle and the areka nuts they bought for the merchandise they carried to that 
country. 
No account has yet reached this country of their being set at liberty, or the areka 
nuts restored to them, or any equivalent for the goods they bartered tbr the areka nuts 
five months since. It is not irrelevant to this subject, to mention that this business has 
created incredible mischief here ; there is an absolute scarcity of money, and want of 
confidence and credit; the inhabitants not knowing where it may end. I have assured 
them all, that they would be redressed, and their persons and properties protected and 
secured. I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) Lieut. O’Connell. 
Putelang, July s8o2. 
To William Boyd, Esq, Vice-Bresident of the Board of Revenue, Columho. 
Sir-—His Excellency the governor has lately received from different [quarters infor- 
mation, that upon the frontiers of Candy preparations are making which seem to indicate 
a hostile disposition upon the part of that government. In many places the roads lead- 
ing into the country were blockaded up. Collections of armed men were assembled in 
considerable numbers, and all persons coming from the British territories were stopped 
and examined with every appearance of distrust and suspicion. As those measures upon 
the part of the Candians evidently proved rather their own fear of being attacked, than 
any hostile intention of an offensive nature against the British possessions, his Excel- 
lency did not judge it necessary to pay any greater attention to them, than to put the dif- 
ferent commandants upon their guard, and to enforce the laws against exporting gun- 
powder and fire-arms to their country. 
But his Excellency has lately been informed, that in the neighbourhood of Putelang 
the Candians have proceeded so far as to commit outrages on some of the subjects of his 
Majesty, several of whom have been forcibly detained, others robbed of their proper- 
ty, and otherwise ill treated by persons pretending to have authority from the King of 
Candy. 
Before his Excellency takes any steps to put a stop to such unwarrantable proceedings 
in future, as well as to demand ample satisfaction for what is past, he is desirous of ob- 
taining the clear, full, and authentic information of the extent of the grievances com- 
mitted, as well as of the truth and justice of the complaints. For this purpose I am 
directed by his Excellency, to request that you will proceed, with as much expedition 
as possible, to Putelang, and there make the fullest inquir ies into the nature and truth of 
the complaints which have been made by those persons who have been aggrieved either 
in their persons or their property.— You will be so good to examine, upon oath, all 
