30 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



would be most prejudicial to the incepient state of native Chris- 

 tianity. The Roman Catholics on the other hand with their 

 showy ceremonies had drawn away several weak members. Af- 

 ter this introduction they proceed to their complaint 



" Heathenism, which for the last years had lost its influence 

 to a great extent, so that many left it for Christianity, has of 

 late begun wonderfully to bestir itself through the agitations of 

 certain ill disposed persons, who, not content with their present 

 improved state have not only by ingratiating themselves with 

 the new King of Kandy and his courtiers been seeking to be 

 absolved from the existing orders and regulations respecting 

 schools, but have also effected a demand from the court of 

 Kandy for the re-erection of dagobas in the lower provinces, and 

 the restoration of the lands, whose revenues formerly supported 

 the dagobas and their priests, and consequently for the revival 

 of idolatry. If this be conceded the orders respecting native 

 Churches and Schools can no more be enforced, and defection 

 from Christianity will be on the increase, " 



The clergy further stated that they had called the attention of 

 the local Government to the apprehended evil, from whom they 

 had received the assurance through their Commissary Politie, 

 that Government would do all in their power to assist the clergy 

 in favouring the work of Christianity by discountenancing idolatry. 

 But it appears that the partial measures of the civil power did 

 not satisfy the clergy, as will appear in the case of the temple 

 of Calany. The secret agent or instigator in the attempt to 

 restore temples and temple domains was a certain moor man in 

 the capacity of Bannaeke or Sabandeur in the Company's ser- 

 vice, who got his wife's brother Jasondere Appoohamy to go to 

 the King of Kandy and move him to send the embassy to the 

 Dutch Governor. 



With the hope of checking the public exercise of heathen- 

 ism the clergy had applied to the local Government for per- 

 Kiission to convert a certain mandou which stood a short dis* 



