446 THE NORTHERN FORESTS. [Part IX. 



About the year 1838, the condition of tliis neglected 

 people attracted the attention of the Governor, Mr. 

 Stewart Mackenzie, and he attempted to penetrate their 

 country, but was turned back by an attack of jungle 

 fever. The Assistant Government Agent, however, in 

 conjunction with the Wesleyan Methodist missionaries 

 at Batticaloa, were commissioned to place themselves in 

 communication wdth the Veddahs, and to make them 

 offers of land and houses, seed-grain, tools, and pro- 

 tection, if they would consent to abandon their forest 

 hfe, and become settlers and cultivators m the low- 

 country. 'Ml'. Atherton and the Eev. ]\Ii\ Stott suc- 

 ceeded during their jom^ney in obtaining the fullest 

 and most accurate information possible as to their 

 actual condition and sufferings. Their destitution they 

 discovered to be so great, that in one community they 

 found seven famihes with but a single iron mammotie 

 (hoe) amongst them for the cultivation of the whole 

 settlement ; and such was their want of even weapons 

 for the chase, that but one arrow was left in a family. 

 Mr. Atherton gave them twelve, with directions to divide 

 them with three clans ; but so ignorant was the head- 

 man, that he could not even separate them hito 

 four equal parcels. Many of the Eock Veddahs will- 

 ingly availed themselves of the offer of settlement and 

 assistance, but firmly refused to remove from the im- 

 mediate vicinity of their native forest. Cottages were 

 built for them in their own district, rice-land assigned 

 them, wells dug, coco-nuts planted, and two commu- 

 nities were speedily settled at Vippam-madoo, close by 

 their ancient hunting fields. There they w^ere provided 

 with seed, hoes and axes, for agricultm-e, and clothes 

 and food for their immediate wants. A school-house 

 was subsequently erected, and masters sent to instruct 

 them through the medium of the Singhalese language ; 

 and the experiment so far succeeded, that settlements 



