After describing the strength and structure of the military under King Rajasinghe II, Tennekoon proceeds to explain the organization of the civil administration. In his report, he clearly distinguishes between two regions of the kingdom: the highlands and the lowlands. These definitions, however, differ somewhat from those employed in later centuries.
Following the British conquest of the territories under the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, the term “Up-country” or highlands came to refer to the newly acquired regions that had previously been under the authority of the King, while lowlands denoted the areas that had already been under British control. By that time, the lowlands—particularly the maritime regions—had been under European rule for centuries, whereas the conquest of the highlands was a first-time. Consequently, the two regions had developed notable cultural differences in addition to administrative distinctions.
Such cultural differences, however, had likely not yet emerged at the time the Tennekoon report was compiled. For instance, Christianity was spreading not only in the maritime provinces but also in the Kandyan regions, with the support of certain members of the royal court. Moreover, although Rajasinghe II’s capital was Senkadagalapura (present-day Kandy), less than a century had passed since political power had shifted from Kotte to Sitavaka and then to Kandy. Another important consideration is that the boundary between territories ruled by European powers and those under indigenous control was never static. The highland–lowland distinction referred to in Tennekoon’s report should therefore be understood within this historical context.
Tennekoon identifies twelve chiefs originating from the highlands and eight from the lowlands who were in the service of King Rajasinghe II at the time, and he records the names of nineteen of them in his report.
Enumeration of the Principal Highland Lords
Presently Serving at the Court of Raja Singha
Pamgammu Appuhamy, Dissave of the Four Korales
Kahavatta Atapattu Appuhamy, governing the lands of Yatinuwara
Jasundara Appuhamy, governing the lands of Udunuwara
Kahandava Appuhamy, governing the lands of Harasiyapattu
Irabodiyadda Appuhamy, governing the lands of Tumpane
Abekon Appuhamy, governing the lands of Dumbara Pansiya Pattu
Etupalla Appuhamy, Dissave administering Matale
Bogamu Rala, governing the lands of Hevahatta
Gallegamma Rala, Vidane of Bintanne
Udavilla Appuhamy, formerly Disava of Uva, now holding no office
Unambuva Appuhamy, Vidane of Kotmale
Rannewonne Mohottiyar
Such is the present state of affairs that, of those born in the Highlands, none are in the service of the Court apart from these twelve aforementioned persons.
From the seven provinces of Candia, comprising the Highland Kingdom, many Appuhamys and Nayides have been taken for all manner of court services, both within and outside the palace precincts—to tend the birds and to keep guard within and outside the Court. From among these, from time to time, many—indeed thousands—have been put to death. As a result, a great hatred has arisen among all the people, together with a desire for vengeance against the King.
The priests and spiritual guides of the Highlands (the Siyangatares and Gannes), and those skilled in the movements of the heavens and in prophecy, have declared in their predictions that within eight months a great calamity will befall the King.
After the death of this King, there is no one—whether in the Highlands or the Lowlands—who can succeed him in his present exalted state and in the Kingdom.
The Court and ancient residence of all the former Kings, named Hingelegellenoora (Senkadagala Nuwara), has now entirely fallen into decay; it is deserted, crumbled into ruins, and, like something that no longer exists, has become a wilderness.
The two princesses who were brought from Madura and married to the King are both still living.
Enumeration of the Lowland Lords
Still Performing Service at the Court
Moragammana Rala, Chief of Vellassa
Edanduvava Rala, Chief of Tamankaduva
Nikapitiya Mohottiyar
Hakurugammana Rala, Overseer of the Royal Stores (Maha Gabada Lekam)
Mipitiya Appuhamy
Gallegala Appuhamy, Dissave of Uva
Payagala Appuhamy, Dissave of Uda-Alapata
In total, eight persons from the Lowlands.
The position of Dissave of the Seven Korales is absent from the above lists because it had previously been held by Tennekoon Appuhamy, who was exiled from the Kandyan region, leaving the position vacant.
By emphasizing that the Kandyan Kingdom is destined for ruin in the absence of a legitimate ruler, Tennekoon implicitly signals to the Dutch that he himself possesses the necessary qualifications to lay claim to the throne, even though several others stood above him in the established order of succession.
Note: The original Dutch text was transcribed and translated using ChatGPT and Transkribus; as a result, some inaccuracies may be present.
References
Nationaal Archief. (n.d.). Scan of archival file NL-HaNA_1.04.02_1321_0271 [Archival scan]. https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/1.04.02/invnr/1321/file/NL-HaNA_1.04.02_1321_0271
Paulusz, J. H. O. (1954). Rāja Siṃha: His military and other resources: Report by Disāva Tennekoon in 1676. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Ceylon, 5, 160–162.
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