202 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Of the numerous illustrations, a few are partial failures owing 
to the forest gloom, but have been skilfully doctored, or, as Dr. 
Seligmann terms it, “faked.” The greater part, however, are vivid 
presentments of wild life, and one, No. LV., “ Nila holding bow 
while reciting invocation,” rises to the level of fine art. 
The ‘‘ Conclusions ”’ form the shortest chapter, and the authors 
agree in the main with Mr. Parker’s theory that the upper ranks 
of the Veddas were absorbed by the conquering Sinhalese, who in 
their turn were influenced by the customs of the vanquished ; while 
the Veddas represent the untamed remnant who by accident or 
choice resisted or escaped absorption. 
A useful warning is given to tourists not to accept the Danigala 
Veddas as the children of nature they pretend to be. 
‘“These folk, who when we saw them wore their Vedda loin 
cloths and were smeared with ashes, are reported to wear ordinary 
Sinhalese cloths when not in their professional pose, and Mr. Bibile, 
who has himself seen one or more of them in sarongs, points out 
that the imposture is kept up for two main reasons: firstly, they 
fear that their cultivation might be stopped, or that they might be 
taxed if they did not appear to be poor fellows living on hardly-won 
jungle produce ; secondly, their pose of poverty interests strangers 
and procures them visitors, whose generosity is the greater, the 
more primitive their mode of life appears to be.” 
These gentlemen, under a more extended franchise, will vote solidly 
for converting Ceylon into a great winter resort for passengers. 
C. HARTLEY, 
