432 Report on the Island of Chedooba. [No. 114. 



curious in some particulars. It has a direct tendency to destroy all feel- 

 ing of gratitude, the real favor conferred being on the part of the re- 

 ceiver, in the opportunity afforded by him to the giver of performing a 

 meritorious act. Robbery and even murder have been committed for 

 the sake of the means of erecting a church, or constructing a road, or a 

 tank, and the end has consecrated the means. These good works are 

 performed in Chedooba as elsewhere among Boodhism, but I was inclined 

 to think with motives more pure, and that the general character of its 

 inhabitants would justify the opinion, that the reward outwardly and 

 inwardly reaped by the performance of such public benefactions, is in- 

 ducement enough to their execution there. 



The construction of such as above, of wells, traveller's houses, or the 

 keeping of any of these in repair, renames the party undertaking them, 

 and he is thenceforth only known by the honorable title of the 'well 

 digger,' the ' road maker,' the ' house builder,' &c. 



The old Christian above mentioned, is the only one on the Island, and 

 is a sincere, and pious old man, deeply interested in the improvement, 

 social and religious, of his Island countryman. He is intelligent and 

 well informed for his means, of the mildest manners, and benevolent 

 appearance ; though between 75 and 76- His pittance is small, 5 rupees 

 a month from the American Baptist Mission, of which he is an assistant ; 

 he is listened to with great attention and curiosity, but, unsupported 

 as he is, and with but little encouragement, his success is small. 



Ramree, the chief town of the Province, enjoys the privilege of a 

 School, where English is taught, and Chedooba, as a part of the province, 

 is entitled to send its quota of pupils. But the habits of the people, and 

 even the regulations of the school, deprive its inhabitants of making 

 almost any use of it. Payment is required ; there may be no friends at 

 Ramree to take charge of the children, and the Chedoobans are attached 

 to their Island too much to allow willingly even their children to leave 

 it for any length of time, very few parents, therefore, and those chiefly 

 the Island authorities, give their children the benefit of the advantage 

 offered by the provincial school. But the payment which is begrudged 

 to the Ramree establishment, would be willingly made even in higher 

 amount to one at home ; both children and parents in Chedooba are all 

 common friends, and mutually known ; and such an establishment, which 

 the deficiency of priests, for educational purposes, points out as wanted, 

 would soon meet with that most grateful appreciation of the boon, a large 

 attendance, nor in other respects would it be without reward to its 

 founders. Not a whit behind his Ramree brother in intelligence and 



