CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 179 



different places from one-third to one- fifth of the value of the 

 fish caught, after deducting 5 per cent which went to the head- 

 men of the Fisher caste called " Pattangatims." There was a 

 difference always made in favor of fish caught by nets over 

 those caught by lines, the latter paying more than the former. 



The Rents of certain gardens, and the permits for digging for 

 precious stones, although numerous were but small in value, and 

 scarcely deserve notice. 



In earlier times the extent of the Government gardens of 

 Cocoa and Areka nuts was large and realized good sums, being 

 leased for 2 years at a time. But most of these were after- 

 wards sold, and at the time I am referring to, none remained 

 but very small ones. 



The Arrack and Toddy Rent does not appear to have formed 

 any considerable item in the revenues of the Dutch Govern- 

 ment. In the Colombo Collectorate it varied from £1,200 to 

 £1,400, but in the other districts it yielded but a few hundreds. 

 In the Colombo district the farmer of this rent had formerly 

 the sole privilege of exporting Arrack, but this however, was 

 no longer the case at the time I now refer to. The licensed 

 retailer of Arrack was compelled to sell the spirit if within 

 the Gravets of Colombo, at Ij fanam the bottle, and as a means 

 of ensuring him at all times a steady supply of the article,, 

 he was permitted the right of taking three-tenths of all the 

 Arrack which was brought to Colombo for exportation by pri- 

 vate traders, paying for the same a similar price to what they 

 obtained for the remainder. 



The Bazaar or Shop Tax was rather a ground-rent levied 

 according to the extent occupied by the shop. It was a veiy 

 slight one but in addition to this there was a small fee of 1| 

 Doit or Cash paid by each Shop-keeper to a Bazaar Master 

 who had also a small pay from the Government out of the 

 proceeds of the farm. It was the duty of this Bazaar Master 

 who had an establishment of Lascoryns under his orders, to 



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