CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 109 



The earliest notice found of these schools reaches to 1712 

 when their number was 30, six of which were Tamul schools. 

 In this year a new school was established at Paspetal, near 

 Colombo, with 125 children. The person who applied for 

 the school-mastership was appointed on condition of his at- 

 tending a certain Clergyman until he should become better 

 qualified to impart religious instruction. 



The result of the inspection in 1715 was on the whole 

 satisfactory, the children answering the catechism questions, 

 and repeating the prayers well. 



The Master of Cosgoclde complained of a boy, who on 

 being fined for non-attendance, had gone to the Wellitotte 

 school ; this being contrary to order, the subject was referred 

 to the Scholarchal meeting. The Report of ] 714 says, that 

 a general desire was observable among the natives to receive 

 instruction and to become acquainted with the Christian 

 religion. In 1715 the number of schools was increased from 

 30 to 35 ; but the report dwells more on adult Christians 

 than on scholars. The bad state in which some schools were 

 found was attributed to irregular attendance through in- 

 difference with some, and distance of abode with others. In 

 1716 the Calpentyn school was reported to be in a very ne-« 

 glected state, and the Master recommended to be dismissed. 

 In 1718 the schools on the South gave more satisfaction 

 than those on the North, except the Oedeware, Payagalle, 

 and Alican schools, which was the Masters' fault. In 1719 

 the district contained 38 schools. The Masters were reported 

 pretty well qualified, but sadly deficient in energy and zeal. 

 Great difficulty was experienced in securing regular attend- 

 ance by the children. 



1721. Aloud complaint about ignorant Masters. The 

 Government ordered all native teachers, living within a cer- 

 tain distance from Colombo, to attend monthly for exami- 

 ation and further instruction by a sub-committee. 



The Cosgodde school with 307 boys and 119 girls, and 

 the Wellitotte school having 450 scholars, were, on account 

 of their distance, transferred to the Galle District, together 

 with the tombos and the pay of the Masters. The next year 

 (1722) the Inspectors found the schools on the whole in a 

 condition three times better than last year. They recom. 

 mended that the four Tamul schools in the Negombo Pro- 

 vince be put on the same footing with the Singhalese schools, 

 as to the performance of divine Service ; and that the Pro- 

 ponent Ignatius preach there in Tamul. An order, dated 



