10S CEYLOiM BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY* 



Masters, and difficulty to the scholarchs. But in many dis- 

 tricts the enforcing of them was found the only expedient 

 to secure attendance at school. In some years these penalties 

 amounted to 700 Kixdollars. The Inspectors received and 

 accounted for the money to the Scholarchal Commission. 

 At the same time it may be remarked that instruction was 

 given by Government gratis. 



4. When this was finished, complaints either from mas- 

 ters, or pupils, or parents, or native headmen were heard ; 

 inquiries instituted as to the cause and reason of neglect or 

 disorder; inefficient Masters dismissed; applications at- 

 tended to ; reproofs and reprimands administered, &c. 



5. Then, in the afternoon, Divine Service was held. One 

 or two chapters out of the Gospels, the Ten Command- 

 ments and the Creed were read in Singhalese or Tamil; 

 then the Clergyman preached, in few solitary cases for want 

 of fluency in the native languages by interpretation ; ad- 

 ministered Baptism and solemnized Marriages. 



When one village or school station had thus been inspect- 

 ed they proceed to the next, and continued their visitation at 

 one or two intervals till they had gone over the whole district, 

 which contained 30, 40 or more schools— and at the close a 

 general report was laid before the scholarchal meeting, and 

 by them submitted to the Governor in Council, accom- 

 panied with returns of the number of children in each school, 

 of adult Christians in each parish, the amount of mulcts, 

 the number of massabadoes, and of natives who learned 

 Psalm-singing. Pity that these returns cannot be found. 

 The remarks of the Governor written with his own hand 

 on the margin of the reports are invariably of a very favo- 

 rable cast, shewing his willingness to further the views and 

 sanction the suggestions of the meeting. In these reports 

 and minutes particulars, which it would be too tedious to 

 mention, are discussed ; such as complaints, applications for 

 increase of salary, for dismissal after long service, for books, 

 for repairs or enlargement of buildings, or for the establish- 

 ments of new schools, examination of School-masters, sug- 

 gestions for the removal of a school to a more convenient 

 station ; applications for admission into Church membership, 

 examination of such candidates, &c. 



II. 



Native Schools of the Colombo District 

 This District extended to the North as far as Calpentyn, 

 and Southward to Cosgodde, afterwards to the Bentotte river. 



