Constitution of the Kandyan Kingdom. 243 
For many years no such homicides have occurred in the districts near 
Kandy. 
But in the Saffregam Korles five or six instances are remembered within 
the last twenty-five or thirty years. The persons who perpetrated them 
having voluntarily come forward and declared the deed to their desavony 
chief, were iraprisoned ; and being reported to the Desave, were discharged 
after payment of a fine, and after no long confinement, by his order, and 
it is believed with the King’s authority. 
For the reason stated in the case of adultery, such occurrences were not 
often made public. But if complaint be made that such a calumny has 
been spoken b yanother, he is sent for and examined, and usually denies 
or is made to deny the words imputed. ‘The chief makes no enquiry to 
establish the fact, but to falsify it; reproves him for having spoken so in 
anger or malice, and forbids him to repeat it. The affair is terminated by 
directing the tainted family to deliver betel or provisions to his house, after 
which no one dares to utter a word against them. 
Murder of Children. 
The murder of children and exposure of children are said to have been 
at some periods not unfrequent, and they were committed chiefly by people 
of the poorest class, and upon one of the three following grounds. 
ist. If from mere indigence, and especially having a numerous offspring, 
the parents thought themselves incapable of maintaining them. 
2d. If any child were supposed to be born under an evil star, and hence 
to threaten misfortune to itself or to the family. 
3d. If achild were the fruit of an illicit connection, which the mother was 
ashamed ‘to own. 
This crime was on different occasions strictly prohibited by the kings of 
Kandy. 
But being in its nature difficult of detection it still prevailed, according to 
report, though not made public, chiefly in Walapane, Uwa, and Saffregam, 
and is believed to have been of rare occurrence in the other provinces, and 
in the districts contiguous to the capital. 
I can learn one instance only of a person tried and convicted of this 
offence under the King’s government, who was sentenced to severe corporal 
punishment at the Gabadawe, and then released. 
