234 Terms of address in use 



Referring to the difference generally between English and 

 Singhalese officers of Government, Mr. Stark says ; — 



" The Government Agent is sometimes styled Dessave. But there can 

 be no analogy among officers in systems of Government so very differ- 

 ent as respects the distribution of official power and duty, as the English 

 and Singhalese; and it only tends to perpetuate misapprehension to use 

 the names indiscriminately." — p. 72. 



In the case of Disava being applied to the " Government 

 Agent," no misapprehension results; and in my opinion, a 

 better designation could hardly be conceived, as one with 

 which the Singhalese are altogether familiar, and one too, 

 with which so much respect is associated in the native mind. 

 A Disdva, or more properly Disdpati, under the Singhalese 

 Government, was a "provincial chieftain," who had principally 

 the management of a province : similarly, the Government 

 Agent of the Ceylon Government at the present day is the 

 chief revenue officer of a Province. The analogy between 

 the two officers is apparent, and the propriety of the native 

 designation, is therefore unquestionable. There are also 

 several other European titles to which native terms are pecu- 

 liarly applicable; as for instance ©c?<5a© for "Clerk;" ©ea 

 for "Lieutenant Governor;" ©DStoe33£<253 for "Trea- 

 surer;" ©ed^DDO^S for a "General" or " The chief of the 

 Forces ;" 8Q383<S5£©3<5'cQo.©aoJ "Prince Consort;" ^o-eroo^Q 

 " Ambassador ;" &c. Not so however, as respects certain 

 other offices which are ill-expressed by any titles of address 

 known to the Singhalese. Of this class are " Auditor Gene- 

 ral," "Post Master," "Surveyor General," " Secretary," &c. 



the same procedure, transfer him to the Senapati [translated by Turnour] ' the chief 

 Minister ; ; he again to the Uparaja, ' Sub-King ' ; the Uparaja to the Raja. The 

 King, inquiring into the matter, if he be innocent, releases him 3 but if he be guilty, he 

 causes the Pawenipattahakan ; 1 book of precedents or usages/ to be propounded. 

 There it is written, — to him, by whom sucli a crime is committed, such a punishment is 

 awarded. The Raja, having measured the culprit's offence by that standard, pro- 

 nounces a suitable sentence."—- Tumour's Budhistical Annals of Ceylon, 



