ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



31 



a prospect of continuance and progress, until their number in 

 places under the command of this town, has increased to 27, 

 besides 7 more in and about Negombo, under the supervision 

 of the clergy of this town (Colombo). The commencement of 

 this work was feeble and subject to many interruptions, which 

 have been successively overcome, and we are labouring with 

 more certainty of good results. According as the experience 

 of each 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 

 Governor Laurens Pyl. Now nothing more is required than 

 that these regulations be brought into practice, and maintained, 

 for the advance or decline of Churches and Schools depend 

 upon their enforcement or neglect." They thought it unne- 

 cessary to enter into particulars, as a detailed report had been 

 called for by the Governor in 1685, to be laid before the Com- 

 pany. The main object of their present communication was 

 to complain of recent attempts to overthrow Christianity. 



The Portuguese, the late occupants of the country, de- 

 stroyed 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 

 would be most prejudicial to the incipient state of Native 

 Christianity. The Roman Catholics on the other hand with 

 their showy ceremonies had drawn away several weak mem- 

 bers. After this introduction they proceed to their complaint. 



" Heathenism, which for the last years had lost its influ- 

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



