430 j4ppend'ix\ 
5th of May tbe head men of the Dooloos Patoe, or the northern division of the 
province, waited on his Excellency with expressions of attatchment and fidelity 
to the Governor’s person, and the crov/n of England. This ceremony was also 
performed by the chiefs ot the Paiepatoes, or south.ern division. On the 6th May 
his Excellency set out on his return to Columbo, much pleased with the populous 
and cultivated appearance of this fine district, and the expressions of attachment, 
made by the natives.” 
The climate, however, was now beginning to operate powerfully in favour of 
the Candians. Colonel Barbut, the commandant of Candy, was in a short time 
obliged by severe illness to return to Columbo, accompanied by Major. Blair, and 
several other officers, who were also extremely indisposed with the jungle fever. 
Colonel Barbut and Major Blair, soon after their return to Columbo, fell victims 
to this fatal disease. They were officers of distinguished reputation and amiable 
manners, and their loss was sincerely lamented. Colonel Barbut, as has already 
been mentioned in the early part of this work, had contributed much to the im- 
provement of the northern parts of Ceylon, 
On the 16th of May, General Macdowal, being recovered from his indisposition, 
left Columbo for Candy, where he arrived on the 2,5th. Pie remained here some 
days, and again attempted to procure an interview with the late king, but without 
success. The General, however, had a conference with the Adi, gar, who, seemed to 
be actuated by the greatest friendship for the English. Considering tranquillity for 
the present secured, he returned to Columbo, taking with him the sick officers and 
men of that garrison, which now began to suffer severely from the jungle fever 
and tlie dysentery. The General left Major Davie of the Malay corps in com- 
mand, with 20b of the 19th regiment, 500 Malays, and a few artillery men. 
On the 20th of June General Macdowal arrived at Columbo, and on the 24th 
of the same month, the Adigar, who had so lately not only agreed to the truce 
with the English, but been loud in his expressions of friendship to them, com- 
mltted an act of perfidy, which unfortunately was as successful as it was atrocious. 
The accounts given of this transaction are necessarily confused, and vary in many 
particulars. It is therefore most proper to give only the authenticated accounts of 
the official documents. 
Extract of a Dispatch from Governor the Honourahle Frederick North, to 
the Right Honourable Lord Hobart, One of His Majesty's Principal Se- 
cretaries of State, dated Columbo, Qth July 1803 . 
I inclose to you the deposition of a person, stating himself to be an eye wit- 
ness of one ot the most atrocious acts of perfidy and cruelty ever committed. 
Every particular of the narration may not be true, but it appears that Candy 
was attacked, in the midst of a truce, by the first Adigar, on the 23d (or I rather believe 
on the 24thj ultimo ; that Major Davie, commanding the garrison there, capitulated 
1 
I 
