CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



8 



course, engage attention, but besides enquiries into the 

 historical facts connected with that religion, I hope to hear 

 from some member of the Society, a disquisition on the pro- 

 minent doctrine of Transmigration, with a view to determine 

 whether it is not after all but a philosophical attempt to 

 account for the existence of evil in the world. If such were 

 the case, the doctrine would naturally become associated with 

 astrology, fatalism and a sullen indifference : — with astrology, 

 and its horoscopes of nativity in lieu of a Biography and 

 Table of the events of a former life, of which there was no 

 record, and on failure or in aid of that prop, then destiny or 

 fate, together with a Nirwana or heaven of apathy in which 

 the soul would lie like an exhausted fire, glad to give up life 

 itself to be delivered from responsibility and retribution. 

 But without entering farther into this here, let me observe, 

 that the religious habits of the Singhalese present a fine 

 moral lesson to mankind. I say the religious habits, not the 

 mere religion of the Singhalese. For while in their religion 

 they seem to feel with us all, that there is some absolute stan- 

 dard of right and wrong independent and irrespective of local 

 notions, they show in their dewales, vows and superstitious 

 observances, that there is in every breast a sense of having 

 done wrong, and that all have need of a propitiation and 

 atonement. 



With respect to the literature, arts and social condition of 

 the people, there is much to ascertain ; but as I stated on a 

 former occasion, I anticipate from the establishment of the 

 present Society two beneficial results. In the first place, the 

 Society will collect the scattered rays of information possessed 

 by different individuals, and make them bear with effect 

 on the above and other topics of interest ; and in the second 

 place it will tend to raise up and encourage a literary and 

 scientific spirit, so sadly wanting in the Island. Hitherto 

 there has been a great deficiency of statistical information 



