Some Notable
Singhalese Families - Part 3Adrian de Alwis; Pages 21 - 23
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Some Notable
Singhalese Families - Part 3
Adrian de Alwis;
Pages 21 - 23
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Reference
An insurrection against Raja Sinha which began with an attempt to kill him on the night of the 21st of December, 1664 (1) caused a great change in his attitude towards the Company, which at his invitation proceeded to occupy the Four and Seven Korales and a portion of Sabaragamuwa. Mudaliyars from Matara were despatched there with their Lascarins and in the Proceedings of Council dated Colombo, 15th November, 1668,(2) appears the following:
"We have resolved to make a presentation to those Chiefs who have conducted
themselves with distinction in the recent campaign, and to give a silver sword
of the value of eighteen or twenty rix dollars to each of them, namely, to
Wickreme Appohamy,
Warrewatte Appohamy,
Corale of Moruwa Corle,
Corale of Colona Corle,
Both the Balesurys, with an honour-name to the elder,
Corale of Corroewitti Corle,
Corale of Cucule Corle, and
Louys d'Andrade.''
The valuable memories prepared for the guidance of the Officers in charge of Sofragam and Bibilegama, and dated September, 1669, show that the Chiefs of Colonna, Corroewitti and Cucule Corles were the Mudaliyars Abbecon, Manamperi and Jasonder respectively. All three of them are mentioned in flattering terms as gallant soldiers and entitled to all the courtesy and friendliness. (3)
The Balesurys can be identified from the Council Proceedings of 5-6 December, 1668, where it appears that Balasury Appohamy, now Dissanaike Modlier, with the Corales of Cucule and Correwitti Corles, were to join the Dutch at Soffragam, in order to hold the surrounding country for the Company. In addition, Dissanaike Modliar and his brother were entrusted with the task of bringing in the Navdun Corle; and, besides the silver swords presented to them, each was to receive twenty-five rix dollars in cash.
The rix dollar was the pataga or ridi paha of the Sinhalese, and was equal to five ridi, or larin, and to appreciate the value of this gift, it should be considered in terms of its buying powers. According to a marala talpat (2) prepared by Ekenaike Mohottiaar and dated the New Moon of January, 1699, the price of paddy was 21/2 laryn for 25 Kuruni, so that 25 rix dollars would have purchased 1,250 Kuruni. The usual price of a Kuruni in the Matara district today is 37 ½ cents.
In 1595 a larin would purchase 300 coconuts. (3)
The Memorie for the guidance of the officer in charge of Arandora (4) dated 4th September, 1669, shows that there were 182 Lascarins under eight chiefs in the Beligal Corale : there were eleven Kadavat, the chief of which was Arandora, where was stationed "Mature Ylangancon Modlyar" with 30 Lascarins from Matara and forty- eight from Colombo. This was, of course, Warrawatte Appohamv. (5)
There is also a Memorandum (6) to the Opperhoofd at Arandora, dated 5th August.
1669,
with a list of the villages with their sowing extents and the names of the
Vidanes over them : -
"The Beligal Corle is a Province of great importance and is divided into
four Districts each under a separate Corle, viz :
Gandollaha
Pattoe and
Candoepitti Pattoe
- Jan Leety of Colombo.
Oeterte
Pattoe, Kelani -
Don Symon Appohamy
Kirewille Pattoe, Colombo - Manuel de
Fonseco.
As the Corales cannot act in harmony we have appointed, the Mature Ylangancon Modlyaer as Head over the Corales, Vidanes and Lascoryns, under your Honour's superior command. This Modlyaer has served here a long time in this capacity and is familiar with the country and is held in great esteem by the inhabitants. Your Honour can rely on him and make use of his counsel and when coolies are needed your Honour can call on him to supply them. This will serve the Company well and the inhabitants will suffer no hardship."