110 CEYLON BRANCH- — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



1723, proceeded from the Governor, that, as the number of 

 scholars throughout, was on the increase, which consequently 

 increased the Master's labour, where in future the children 

 in one school exceeded in number 200, a second assistant 

 Teacher be appointed; upon which order, six schools, namely 

 Barberyn, Mutwal, Corelewatte, Payagalle, Caltura near 

 the river, Pantura and Morotto were immediately supplied 

 with a third Teacher. At the same time the Governor 

 sanctioned a proposition that the Dutch Catechists and Pre- 

 lectors at outstations be instructed to collect a few promis- 

 ing Singhalese lads and teach them the Dutch language ; to 

 which proposition another was added by the Governor him- 

 self, that there should be evening schools for singing, if pos- 

 sible to train the Singhalese to Psalm singing. This year 

 also it was reported that people of all classes expressed gra- 

 tification at the opportunities of instruction afforded them, 

 and appeared anxious to avail themselves thereof. At this 

 visitation a collection of translated prayers, the form for 

 the administration of the Lord's Supper, and a few Singha- 

 lese Sermons were distributed among the schools. The 

 Scholarchal meeting instructed the Masters to pay parti- 

 cular attention to the reading and writing exercises, as a 

 more effectual way of disseminating knowledge among the 

 natives than by mere oral instruction, whereby they would 

 be induced to read the books, which it was in contemplation 

 to place within their reach. The report of 1725 notices a 

 diminution in school attendance, and ascribes it to a late fa- 

 mine in the country accompanied with an inundation, which 

 forced the inhabitants to absent themselves from home in 

 search of sustenance. The schools at Nagam, Mahapitti- 

 gam, Cottelewatte, Minuangodde, and Wellicadde had been 

 frequently closed. On the day of the visit two of the above 

 schools were found empty ; and at Minuangodde but 5 boys 

 and 8 girls were present. This decline awakened appre- 

 hensions of rain to schools and native congregations, and 

 called forth an order to the Masters to constrain the chil- 

 dren who were running about the villages to come to school. 

 In 1727 after hearing the ordinary lessons, the children 

 were made to give their own answers on miscellaneous ques- 

 tions suggested from the lessons, and the result evinced a 

 degree of reflection and intelligence creditable to teachers 

 and pupils. The best schools were Kegelewatte, Melager 

 and Cotta, the worst Wewalle, Paspetal, Calane and Wol- 

 fendhal. In 1735 the annual visitation did not take place 



