1 14 C ETLOjN BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



each school. The examiners commenced with religious in- 

 struction, to impress on the people that the work they under- 

 took was the work of God. The most advanced scholars 

 were called to repeat distinctly and audibly the ten com- 

 mandments and other parts, for the benefit of all. In order 

 to avoid collusion practised by the Masters, who asked only 

 those questions which they knew the children could answer, 

 the tomboholder or some other competent person was asked 

 to interrogate. Then the " largeerden " were examined, and 

 what they did not comprehend was further explained, as far 

 as time permitted. The schools were visited in the follow- 

 ing order : 



1. Hickkedoewe (Hiccade) had a large school, composed of 

 boys and girls, whose behaviour and learning were reported 

 commendable. Their answers shewed that they understood 

 the catechism committed to memory ; reading and writing 

 were good. 



2. Kahawe school, not so numerously attended as the pre- 

 ceding ; the Master, a deserving character, complained of 

 disobedience and unwillingness in his scholars, the parents 

 being the great obstacles. The chalia inhabitants objected 

 to the Master because he was a Wellale. The school was 

 attended but three weeks previous to this visit, and even 

 then reluctantly. 



3. Madampe, a, chalias school, better than the preceding 

 one ; the children were young, few only reaching the age 

 of 15 years. 



4. Wellitotte, a chalias-school, the largest in the district, 

 having 400 scholars, but under one Master, whose attain- 

 ments were not great. The writing was not expert ; the 

 Master found fault with his scholars, but when the New 

 Testament was produced for reading, the children declared 

 they had never seen those books before. 



5. Bentotte, the best of all the schools ; the Master bore 

 a respectable character among the people : on the Post-hol- 

 ders testimony he never omitted his school in the week, nor 

 conducting Divine Service on Sundays. The children were 

 under good discipline, and quick at reading and writing. 

 The visit gave mutual satisfaction. 



6. Indoeroewe school in every respect the reverse of the 

 preceding. Those who could read and write said, they had 

 been taught, not by the Master, but by their friends. 



7. Cosgodde, a chalias school. They were not taught 

 writing, the Master complaining of bad eye-sight. 



