No. 9. — 1856-8.] DISTRICT OF NUWAEAKALAWXYA. 153 



IX. And lastly, a line from this to the Mannar road near 

 Adapankulam, has been surveyed, and in a great measure 

 traced. 



The whole amount collected during each year since 1850, is 

 as follows :— 



Year. 



No. 



liable. 



Value 

 in Money. 







£ 



s. 



d. 



1850 



10,117 



758 



15 



6 



1851 



10,923 



819 



5 



6 



1852 



10,910 



818 



5 







Total,.. 



31,950 



2396 



5 







It will be observed, that the rate of commutation fixed for six 

 days' labour, is only Is. 6d. This is just half of the real 

 proportion ; but this arrangement was purposely adopted, on the 

 supposition that hired coolies do more work than statute 

 labourers ; besides which, this system enables one to concen- 

 trate one's efforts on such roads as most immediately call 

 for attention. I think, however, that these advantages have 

 been over-estimated, and that the rate of commutation should 

 have been higher. 



Of late years, a good deal has been said about the desirable- 

 ness of giving to the natives Municipal privileges, and it was 

 hinted that the Road Ordinance was but the first step in that 

 direction. In those districts with which I am best acquainted, 

 the hopes of the Progressists have been woefully disappointed : 

 the people frequently not shewing the slightest interest in the 

 elections ; not recording their votes ; not even taking the trouble 

 to attend. 



