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CEYLON BRANCH 



to much inconvenience. They concluded with advising the 

 clergy, as the best means of promoting the good cause, to ac- 

 quire a thorough and familiar knowledge of the native languages, 

 and thus to instruct the people more effectually, and reclaim 

 them from popery. The clergy agreed in 1753 for this purpose 

 to hold weekly meetings and catechizings at private dwellings, 

 in the Malabar language. The Roman Catholics erected places 

 of worship at Caltura, and began public exhibitions and pro- 

 cessions. Their principal leader, herein was apprehended, 

 brought to Colombo, andbanishedby Government to Tutucoreen. 

 At Negombo the Romanists persecuted the Protestants, reviled 

 them, spoke disrespectfully of their clergy and nearly killed 

 a Protestant. 



Seven years afterwards a disturbance was raised in the 

 Alutcoor corle in the Negombo District by Roman Catholics, 

 which had to be put down by a Military detachment. The 

 scholarchal commission had reported to Government that this 

 province was a stronghold of popery. Government ordered 

 certain persons who had erected Roman Catholic Chapels, 

 under penalty of hard labour in chains, to break them down. 

 Upon which two were destroyed, but when they proceeded to 

 a third, they were violently opposed by a crowd of women. 

 Upon which the Dessave of Negombo sent off some Mohandi- 

 rams and Lascoreens to enforce the orders, but these were 

 attacked on their way near Topoe by about 1000 men, princi- 

 pally fishers, who rushed out of the jungle, wounded several, 

 obstructed their return, as also any communication of the 

 intelligence to Negoftibo. This circumstance obliged the Go- 

 vernor to send thither a detachment of 48 Europeans and 96 

 Native soldiers with their officers, and a number of armed 

 Lascoreens with their chiefs ; instructing the Lieutenant, De- 

 save and Chief of the Mahabadde, to bring the insurgents to 



