A solemn conference was held between the British Governor and the Candian chiefs, and the assembly declared the Malabar dynasty deposed, and the provinces of Candy united to the dominions of the British Crown. Thus was an extensive tract of country, bountifully endowed with natural gifts, and producing the necessaries and luxuries of life, including spices, metals, and precious stones, added to the British dominions; a numerous race of human beings, of a peculiarly interesting character, was delivered from the power of despotism, and brought under the advantages of the just government and equitable laws of Great Britain. Every species of torture was immediately abolished; but the ancient religion of the inhabitants, and the former mode of administering justice, were preserved. The conduct of the British troops was highly meritorious, and reflected credit on the several corps employed in this enterprise; the soldiers abstained from plunder and violence, and behaved with such order and regularity as to conciliate the inhabitants, whose condition, improved by a policy founded on liberal ideas, and exhibiting enlarged views, prepared the way for their emancipation from the errors of superstition, and their introduction to the advantages of Christianity, and of European arts, sciences, and commerce. While the first battalion of the SEVENTY-THIRD was thus employed, the _Second Battalion_ had acquired the word “WATERLOO” for the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of its distinguished services in that memorable battle, which terminated the lengthened war in which the powers of Europe had been engaged. A portion of the British troops occupied posts in the newly-acquired territory, and the corps not required for this duty returned to their former quarters. The first battalion of the SEVENTY-THIRD regiment was again stationed at Colombo. [Sidenote: 1816] During the year 1816 the battalion continued to be stationed at Colombo. [Sidenote: 1817] In the month of September 1817, intimation was received at Colombo, that several Candian chiefs, who were hostile to British interests, were making preparations in various parts of the interior provinces of Ceylon, in favour of a new claimant to the throne of Candy, who subsequently arrived in the island from the continent of India, and they actually commenced hostilities on the 25th of October, 1817, by the murder of a native Mahandiram in Ouva, and by that of Mr. Wilson, the collector of that place, who had gone out to remonstrate with the natives assembled in the vicinity of Badulah. Detachments from all the regiments stationed in Ceylon were in consequence ordered into the interior, and the SEVENTY-THIRD furnished for this service nearly the whole of the officers and men fit to march. [Sidenote: 1818]