174 Topographical and Statistical Account of 



it unnecessary at present to do more than state, that the cha- 

 racters employed are not to be found in any of the alphabets 

 in my possession. 



Fiscal Arrangements. 



This District always formed an integral portion of the Kan- 

 dian Provinces, being specially entrusted to the third Dessawe 

 for the time being. The last of these appears to have been 

 Thalgahagodde Dissawe, who seems to have resigned about 

 the year 1833. It was about this time that the District, as it 

 now exists, was formed by adding some portions of Matelle and 

 Seven Korles. 



Until a few years ago, the native Headmen consisted of 

 Maha Wanny Oonahehs, Wanny Moodianses, and Kahria- 

 korunnas, all these being connected with both the Revenue 

 and Police Departments. At present we have Divisions, 

 Korles and Thoolahnes, under Hat t emahat mey as, Korales, and 

 Lekeemes; of the first there are three, of the second seventeen, 

 of the third about sixty. 



Kattemahatmeyas receive £2 10.?. per mensem, besides five 

 per cent, on the revenue collected from their divisions. 



Korales receive five per cent, on their collections, and hold, 

 free of tax, such lands as they possess within their own Korles. 



The Lekeemes, unlike the two other grades, are at present 

 regarded solely as Police Vidahns. As a matter of fact, how- 

 ever, they remain, as formerly, general assistants of the 

 Korales ; and this arrangement ought, I think, to be again 

 formally sanctioned. They hold, free of tax, such of their 

 lands as lie within their own thoolahnes, and do not receive 

 stated salary, nor percentage. 



