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APPENDIX. 



. Resolved 6th.— That the Report now read be received and adopted 

 The Secretary then read the Report of the Statistical Committee. 



Report of the Statistical Committee of the Asiatic Society of 

 Ceylon for the Year ending 29th February 1848. 



Your Committee dates its appointment from the end of the year 

 1846, but as it did not commence its labours until February 1847, 

 the present time is really the termination of the first year of its 

 operation. Conscious that where nothing had hitherto been done, too 

 much must not at first be attempted, your Committee resolved at 

 the Commencement of their office, to confine their enquiries to the 

 Vital and Industrial Statistics of the Island leaving other subjects 

 of research for a later period, and for other committees. 



In the month of February 1847, a letter was sent to the Honora- 

 ble The Colonial Secretary, stating the object of the Committee's 

 appointment, and requesting such assistance as the Government might 

 be able to render us from the public Records in its possession, and 

 at the same time the attention of the Government was especially 

 directed towards the Population Returns of past years. Xn reply to 

 this communication, the Colonial Secretary assured your Committee 

 of the sense entertained by His Excellency The Governor of the 

 importance of the enquiries contemplated, and of his desire to af- 

 ford them every facility in his power. The Statistical data however, 

 to be found in the Records of Government, were said to be very 

 meagre, whilst the Population Returns, the latest of which were 

 for 1843, it was feared, had not been collected with the fidelity and 

 industry which was necessary to give them value. 



Your Committee was in conclusion requested to furnish such 

 points of enquiry as they deemed of consequence, and these were 

 promised to be furnished, as far as practicable, from the Records, 



In compliance with this request your Committee furnished a list 

 of enquiries touching the Manufactures, Agricultures, Fisheries and 

 Population of the Island and although no reply has hitherto 

 been received to this last communication, your Committee cannot 

 but' feel that some benefit has arisen from the correspondence. 



