414 THE NORTHERN FORESTS. [Part IX. 



tree, but beyond these they have no knowledge of any 

 manufactiu'e. 



The Coast Veddahs, another tribe who might almost 

 be considered a thn-d class, have settled themselves in 

 the jungles between Batticaloa and Trincomahe, and 

 subsist by assisting the fishermen in their operations, or 

 in felling timber for the Moors, to be floated down the 

 rivers to the sea. 



The Eock Veddahs, who till lately resided almost ex- 

 clusively within the Bintenne forests, consisted of five 

 clans or hunting parties, but it is obvious that no data 

 whatever can exist to aid us in forming an approximate 

 estimate of thek" numbers. The settlements of the 

 Village Veddahs, are in the vicinity of the lagoon 

 districts around Batticaloa, where as they have mingled 

 by slow degrees with tlie inliabitants on the outsldrts 

 of that region, it is difficult now to discriminate them 

 with precision, but they do not exceed one hundred and 

 forty famiUes, divided into nine httle communities, 

 distmguished by pecuharities known only to each other. 

 The Coast Veddahs are principally m the \icinity of 

 Eraoor, and the shores extending northwards towards 

 Venloos Bay ; where they may probably reckon four 

 to five hundi^ed individuals. The entire number of 

 Veddahs of all classes in Ceylon has been estimated at 

 eight thousand, but this is obviously a mere conjecture, 

 and probably an exaggerated one. 



]\Ir. Atherton, the Assistant Government Agent of the 

 district, who exhibited a laudable energy in seconding 

 the efforts made by the Government Off&cers to re- 

 claim these outcasts, spoke to me in favoiu'able terms 

 of the gentleness of their disposition, apparent amidst 

 extreme indifference to morals, although grave crimes 

 are rarely committed. In case of theft the dehn- 

 quent, if detected, is forced to make restitution, but 

 imdergoes no punishment. If a girl be carried off* 

 from her parents, she is claimed and brought home ; 

 and tlie husband of a faithless wife is equally contented 



