188 



CEYLON BRANCH 



according to the extent occupied by the shop. It was a very 

 slight one, but in addition to this there was a small fee of 1^ 

 Doit or Cash paid by each Shop-keeper to a Bazaar Master 

 who had also a small pay from the Government out of the 

 proceeds of the farm. It was the duty of this Bazaar Master, 

 who had an establishment of Lascoryns under his orders, to 

 preserve order and cleanliness throughout the Bazaar, to see 

 that all rubbish and filth were removed, and more especially to 

 examine weights and measures, and see that the market was 

 well supplied with an abundance of good meat, vegetables and 

 fruits. In the event of his finding any articles of bad quality, 

 he had power to remove them, and fine the seller ; and should 

 there have been a scarcity of any particular article of daily 

 consumption, he was bound to report the same]to the Governor 

 who would then cause supplies to be brought in from the coun- 

 try, at any cost. This system appears to have worked well, 

 and though the rent yielded little or nothing to Government, 

 all parties seem to have been satisfied with it. 



The remainder of the Farmed Revenue not included under 

 the two preceding heads we may term various. 



Sundry duties collected at Manaar were trifling in extent, 

 and appear to have been remains of Singhalese taxes kept up 

 from time immemorial, long since abolished in all other parts 

 of the Colony, but said to be retained here as their collection 

 tended to afford information as to the nature and extent of the 

 traffic carried on between the Kandyan Country and the Coast 

 to the northward. The jealousy of the Dutch, added to their 

 constant warfare with their Kandyan neighbours, would greatly 

 favor this supposition. 



Service Taxes were levied in lieu of certain fixed services 

 exacted of some of the lower orders of people. ■ It was some- 

 times in money, but more frequently in kind. 



