CEYLON" BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY: 



ST 



the fullest publicity to all documents connected with the 

 State, and by collecting from the authorities of districts such 

 data as would be easily accessible to them, touching the 

 moral and industrial statistics of the people. 



Taking this view of the case, I intend now to point out 

 what can be done in this Colony, with present available 

 means, and what might be done with further assistance. 



I will commence with vital statistics : and here we at once 

 find serious obstacles in our way. The Population Tables 

 of this Island cannot be looked upon as in any way approach- 

 ing correctness, whilst their sub-divisions into occupations 

 are little better than mere guess work. Constructed as in 

 the departmental service of our government, with its many 

 ramifications of Agents, Modliars, Aratchies and Viclahns, it 

 would appear at first sight, as though the task of compiling 

 these tables correctly, were easy enough, for it is pretty 

 generally known, that the Headmen are thoroughly well 

 acquainted with every thing, and every person within their 

 districts. But on the other hand, unfortunately, returns 

 from such people, can seldom be depended on, for, added to 

 their natural dislike to trouble, they look upon the collection 

 of such information with suspicious eyes — and are apt to 

 imagine, that we shall feel jealous of any large increase in 

 their numbers. TTere the authorities to attach more im- 

 portance to these details, and to insist on greater accuracy, 

 under pain of their displeasure, much more might undoubtedly 

 be accomplished. I may here remark, that the Population 

 of Ceylon in 1841, was-stated to have been 1,365,779, and in 

 the following year at not more than 1,337,032. The Island 

 could not have lost 28,747 inhabitants during the year : it 

 follows therefore, that one of these returns must have been 

 greatly incorrect. 



It would not be a very difflcidt task for Government to 

 obtain returns of the age and occupations of persons dying 

 in each district, and these would afford us the means of 



