CEYLON BRANCH- — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 29 



King of Kandy removed most of the inhabitants of the lower 

 provinces to tLe interior, whereby little opportunity was afforded 

 in the first years to establish Schools and Churches among the 

 natives ; so that a commencement was made at the time here 

 and there only in the maritime parts which were better inhabited. 

 Subsequently however the people returned gradually from the 

 mountain districts, and as opportunity offered, Churches and 

 Schools were located wherever there was a prospect of conti- 

 nuance and progress, until their number in places under the com* 

 mand of this town, has increased to 27 besides 7 more in and 

 about Negombo, under the supervision of the clergy of this towia 

 (Colombo). The commencement of this work was feeble and 

 subject to many interruptions, which have been successively over- 

 come, and we are labouring with more certainty of good re- 

 sults. According as the experience of eaeh succeeding day 

 taught us what was requisite for the continued welfare and greater 

 efficiency of these Churches and Schools, we made suggestions 

 to the Government, upon which we have received good orders 

 and regulations from the present Governer Laurens Pyl. New 

 nothing more is required than that these regulations be brought 

 into practice, and maintained, for the advance or decline of 

 Churches and Schools depends upon their enforcement or neg- 

 lect, " They thought it unnecessary to enter into particulars, 

 as a detailed report had been called for by the Governor in 

 1685, to be laid before the Company. The main object of 

 their present communication was to complain of recent attempts 

 to overthrow Christianity. 



The Portuguese, the late occupants of the country destroyed 

 the dagobas and heathen edifices, and did not tolerate the public 

 exercises of devil-worship. The Dutch also issued in 1682 

 strict placards against all such ceremonies and inflicted heavy 

 penalties ; the Governor judging that as the people were not 

 as yet free from the leaven of heathenism, and the display of 

 ceremonies had great influence on the mind, these practices 



