ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



39 



tion of the coast people. To this circumstance is attributed 

 the equal prevalence of the Tamil and Singhalese languages, 

 and the increasing introduction of words from the former into 

 the latter." 



It was remarked about this time that Roman Catholic 

 writers speaking in their works of the manner in which the 

 priests, and especially the jesuits introduced and propagated 

 their doctrine in India, and particularly in Ceylon, say, that 

 their Missionaries represented themselves to the native chiefs 

 as persons learned in astronomy, mathematics, and natural 

 philosophy, and shewed, in order to make the better impres- 

 sion, some instruments or machines ; that they began with 

 giving instruction in the arts and sciences, infusing at the 

 same time, but imperceptibly, their religious tenets ; and that 

 they thus gained the confidence of the people, and secured the 

 good will of the learned in the land. The clergy of the Dutch 

 Church in Ceylon wished to profit from this plan. They 

 observed that the more civilized portion of the inhabitants set 

 a high value on natural philosophy ; that they were fond of 

 astrology, supposing their daily actions and pursuits to be re- 

 gulated by the influence of good and evil planets, being in the 

 habit of consulting their astrologers as to the planets under 

 which their children were born, to hear their fate foretold. 

 The classes were therefore recommended in their selection of 

 ministers for Ceylon to give the preference to such as were 

 proficient in the sciences ; not only that their knowledge may 

 gain them the esteem of the natives, but also to instruct the 

 students of the seminary on the same subjects, and thus assist 

 to rectify the prevailing erroneous notions of the native of the 

 heavenly bodies and of the solar system, and in that manner 

 also to lead the people up to the knowledge of the only true 

 Creator of heaven and earth. 



