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ON SECLUDED TRIBES OF UNCIVILIZED MEN. 333 



have settled, and is not to be found on the Arabian side of India. 

 It is probable that whether any traces of the Malay type can be 

 discovered, as some suppose, in the personal appearance of the 

 native population or not, that the country was originally settled by 

 tribes similar to those which at a remote period colonized the 

 Dekkan. These aborigines had, however, to retire before a more 

 powerful race about 543 years before the Christian era. At that 

 time they were called "Takkos" and ''Nagas;" which literally 

 signify "demons" and "snakes." They were so termed, it is sup- 

 posed, by neighbouring tribes contemptuously, from tffe circumstance 

 of these aborigines being divided into two classes, one of which was 

 addicted to the worship of demons, and the other to that of the 

 cobra, as an emblem of destroying power. In 543 B.C. Wijaya, a 

 prince from the valley of the Ganges, who had got into bad repute 

 at home, landed with a number of followers near Putlam, and 

 established a dynasty which lasted for several centuries. This 

 invasion was followed by an influx of Malabars or Tamils, who 

 ultimately gained possession of the island. They were driven thence 

 in 1071, A.D., but again returned and established themselves in 

 1211. In 1266 another invasion took place, this time from the 

 Malayan peninsula, and was followed by fresh incursions from the 

 coast of India. In the fifteenth century the island was visited by 

 the Chinese, with hostile intent, and the celebrated commander, 

 Ching Ho, attacked the capital and carried off the king into 

 captivity. For several years after this, Ceylon paid a yearly tribute 

 to China. The Portuguese were the next visitors. They first 

 landed in 1505. In 1597 the King of Cotta died, and left the King 

 of Portugal heir to his crown. In 1617 the Portuguese took Jaffna, 

 and assumed the command of the country. After the Portuguese 

 the Dutch became masters of the island. The first Dutch ship 

 arrived at the island in 1602. The Dutch contended with the 

 Portuguese for 20 years, finally prevailing against them. In 1795 

 the British united with the Kandyaus to expel the Dutch from the 

 island, and in the following year Ceylon came into the possession of 

 of England . 



A country, therefore, which has been the scene of so many inva- 

 sions, which has changed masters so many times, and which, from 

 its fertility, has been an attraction to merchants from all parts of 

 the globe, it is said, even since the days of Solomon, must present a 

 mixture and a variety of human beings well worthy of the study of 



