CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



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desire of gain. In this country in 1834-5, the proportion 

 generally was about 2^, and in 1841-2 it was about 3; but 

 the Southern districts have fallen below this average, and 

 the interior or Kandy districts still more ; while on the other 

 hand, in the Northern districts (which were above the average 

 in 1834-5) the proportion has risen as high as in England. 



The population of the districts last mentioned, is different 

 from that of the other parts of the Island, in origin, language, 

 and habits ; and crime in the North consists principally of 

 burglary, and other offences against property, with violence, 

 to which would formerly have been added the cruel and 

 daring crime of plagiary, or kidnapping ; whereas in the other 

 parts of the Island, crime presents no settled character, but, 

 generally speaking, offences against the person, and offences 

 against property, with violence and without violence, may 

 be regarded there as in nearly equal proportions, with a 

 tendency or preponderance, in the interior or Kandy districts, 

 towards offences against the person, and in Colombo and the 

 South, to offences against property with violence. And sup- 

 posing that the thirst for gain, which is so characteristic of 

 the low country, were to become general, still it is probable 

 that the Northern districts would remain distinguished from 

 the rest of the Island — for daring and combination. Next 

 to them, would be the inhabitants of the interior, or Kandy 

 districts ; and next, the low country people of the South, who 

 are formidable, not from native force of character, but from 

 adventitious circumstances, among which must be placed the 

 multitude of escapes from justice. In September 1841 there 

 were, according to the Government Gazette, 17 at large, in 

 September 1842 the number had increased to 41, and in 

 September 1843 it was 53, namely 1 from the year 1839, 8 

 from 1840, 12 from 1841, 14 from 1842 and 18 from 1843, 

 and of those described in the current Gazettes, there appears 

 one who had twice escaped, was twice punished, and being 



