the District of Noowerdkalawiya. 167 



Two circumstances exercise a most beneficial effect on the 

 people ; the first, that for the last three years there has not been 

 a single tavern in the District ; the latter, that tht* e are no re- 

 sident Proctors. Of course I do not mean to deny that many 

 proctors may be good and honest men, nor that such are very 

 useful ; but it is evident, that proctors who would settle in such 

 a district as this, must be the very refuse of their profession, 

 and such men would be a curse to the District. 



Education. 



About eighteen months ago an English school was set on 

 foot, and is still maintained. Owing to the liberality of Go- 

 vernment, no fees are demanded from the scholars, it being con- 

 sidered that the people must first learn what education is, 

 before they are asked to pay for it. The number of scholars 

 is only thirteen, but when a sort of boarding house now in 

 contemplation shall have been constructed, the number may 

 be expected to increase considerably. 



A Tamul school, supported by private funds, is attended by 

 a few scholars, but there is a constant succession of new 

 faces ; — so soon as a boy can read a little and scrawl his name, 

 he sets up a boutique. 



The best effects have followed from the strict examination 

 to which applicants for headmanship are subjected, as to their 

 proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic. In the latter 

 respect, the progress is most marked, and has been assisted by 

 the distribution of suitable books of instruction. 



This being one of the most sacred spots of Ceylon, it might 

 be expected that I should have much to say regarding the 

 Boodhist priesthood. This however, is not the case ; the priests 

 here are ignorant beyond description ; know nothing of their 



