92 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



refusing to work, and 18 suspicious characters. The In- 

 dividuals accused were as follows, viz. 96 Kandyans, 373 

 Singhalese, 61 Moormen, 63 Malays, 506 Malabars, 37 

 Burghers and 15 Europeans, the "Suspicious" so called 

 being Kandyans, Moormen, Malays and Singhalese in the 

 rate of 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. 



The greatest number of charges were as we have seen, 

 for drunken and disorderly conduct and refusing to work, 

 and these were mainly against the Malabar Coolies, and 

 next to them the Singhalese. Next in amount to such 

 charges were those for offences against property without 

 violence, namely theft, embezzlement and receiving stolen 

 property and these were principally against Singhalese and, 

 close upon them, Malabars, Next were charges of murder 

 and assault. The former were against Kandyans. The 

 others were principally against Malabars and Singhalese, 

 next to whom, but remotely, were Kandyans and Moors. 

 Last and least of all in amount, were charges of offences 

 against property with violence, and these were mainly 

 against Singhalese, and after them Malays and Kandyans, 



Of the Malabars, who formed the greatest proportion of 

 those accused, there was upwards of one half charged with 

 drunken and disorderly conduct and refusing to work, the 

 rest being for theft, assault and receiving stolen property. 

 Of the Singhalese it may be said, one half were charged 

 with drunken and disorderly condtict and refusing to work, 

 one third with offences against property without violence, 

 and the remainder with assault and offences against pro- 

 perty with violence. So, of the Kandyans it may be said 

 there was one third charged with offences against property 

 without violence, and one third with murder and assault, 

 and one third with disorderly conduct and offences against 

 property with violence. The Malays were principally ac- 

 cused of disorderly conduct ; the rest were charged with 

 theft, robbery and assault. The charges against the Moors 

 were of a similar description. Of the 37 Burghers there 

 were 25 accused of disorderly conduct and refusing to work, 

 8 of theft and receiving stolen property, 3 of assault and 

 1 of robbery. And, of the 15 Europeans there were 8 

 charged with assault, and 5 with disorderly conduct, the 

 remaining two only being accused of theft and receiving 

 stolen property, and as to them I hope to obtain some satis- 

 factory information. The great charge against the Euro- 

 peans was assault, as the main accusation against the poor 

 Malabars, and we may add., the Btirgkers, was disorderly 



