30 CEYLON BRANCH 



although in 1668 both the local Civil and Ecclesiastical autho- 

 rities had resolved that the language should be discouraged in 

 order to its dying away, and had taken strenuous measures to 

 that effect, yet that experience had hitherto shewn them the 

 impracticability. The new Testament in Portuguese had 

 been published in Holland by order of the Company, several 

 copies were distributed in Ceylon, and the demand for them 

 was increasing. But as it was not considered a very good 

 version, the phraseology being in several places incorrect, it 

 became a subject of correspondence whether a fresh supply 

 should be granted, or a revised edition published. The latter 

 was resolved upon, but in the mean time 50 copies of the old 

 edition were received from Batavia to be distributed and used 

 (the incorrect places amended with the pen) with the prospect 

 of being soon superseded. There was also in circulation a 

 little Portuguese work against Popery, entitled a Dialogue 

 between a Pastor and a Farmer, translated from the Dutch,, 

 and published in Holland in 1682. 



In 1685 the number of Clergymen stood thus: — Jaffna 4 y 

 Colombo 3, Galle 2, and Matura L Jaffna was looked upon 

 as the most important sphere of operation. 



An official letter from the Consistory to the XVII Repre- 

 sentatives of the Company in 1689 gives this mention of rural 

 Churches and Schools. — " At the conquest of Colombo by the 

 Dutch, the King of Kandy removed most of the inhabitants of 

 the lower provinces to the 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 



