166 Topographical and Statistical Account of 



continent in the time of Rjija Sen, who granted to each exten- 

 sive tracts of land. They are very numerous here, and very 

 troublesome, as they will not accept any inferior appointments, 

 and for the most part think it quite beneath their dignity to 

 educate themselves. As their claim to fill all the high offices 

 has been rejected, they now frequently intermarry with 

 Vellales, and will in all probability soon be incorporated with 

 that caste. 



Considerable numbers of domesticated Veddahs are to be met 

 with, but none of those who still retain their primitive wild- 

 ness reside in the District. 



Six or seven villages of the Eastern Division are inhabited 

 by a set of people who have much the look of Moormen. If 

 asked to what caste they belong, they reply, " We are from 

 Kurenagalle habagoe." Their neighbours call them " wagei," a 

 name which they do not at all like. They do not intermarry 

 with the people of the District, and seek for wives either in their 

 own villages here, or in those of their comrades in Seven 

 Korles. They preserve a tradition, that many centuries ago 

 their forefathers came from Malwar, but do not know where 

 that place is. They seem to be a sort of Dhoorias. 



The Moormen or Mahommedans occupy numerous villages ; 

 they are locomotive, enterprizing, fond of trade, and very de- 

 ceptive. Their love of money is a perfect disease; they are 

 more robust, intelligent, and bold than the Singhalese, and 

 are very much disliked and feared by them. 



Many individual Tamuls have settled in the District, but I 

 am not aware that any one village is exclusively occupied by 

 them. 



A few Caffres and Malays occur here ; the former chiefly 

 discharged soldiers and their offspring ; the latter, people, 

 who as I believe, have some very good reason for living in 

 secluded spots. 



