IS T 0. 9. 1856-8.] DISTRICT OF NUWAEAKALAWIYA. 



161 



II. Last year murrain prevailed to a lamentable extent/ and 

 so many of the draught cattle died, that large quantities of 

 land were left uncultivated ; and as the people are naturally 

 improvident, they were at once reduced to great distress. On 

 the other hand, the amount due for grain commutation by the 

 settlement just closed, contrasts favorably with that which 

 preceded it, shewing an increase of £74 Ss. 0±d. A slight 

 examination will leave no doubt that this district is rapidly 

 increasing in wealth and importance. 



Crime. 



The people of Xuwarakalawiya a re the most gentle I have had 

 the fortune to meet, It is true they quarrel a good deal, but 

 these squabbles are generally of the most t rifling kind ; the parties 

 after exhausting their list of abusive terms, pull each other's 

 hairs, then shriek and run away from each other, and so the 

 matter ceases. Serious assaults, robberies, murders, are all 

 but unknown, and during three years I have not had to punish 

 one native of the district for pilfering. 



Cattle stealing used to prevail to a great extent, but has 

 been much checked since the matter was placed in the hands 

 of the District Judges. It is still carried on to some extent 

 on the borders of Seven Korales and, latterly, of Mannar, 

 but three-fourths of the charges now investigated prove utterly 

 I false. 



The people are fond of litigation, but not I believe to the 

 same extravagant extent as elsewhere, and numerous disputes 

 are settled by reference to the Assistant Agent without going 

 to the Courts of law at all ; and some such system as this 

 Kerns to be infinitely the best adapted to the people. 



Future Prospects. 

 The soil on the major part of the district being good, there 

 can be no doubt that agriculture will receive more and more 

 attention. Roads are being formed in every direction, and if 

 Government took up the matter of Tank repair with spirit, I 

 believe that Nuwarakalawiya would profit thereby fully as much 

 as any district in Ceylon, g f&B 1^7 



