No. 11.— 1858-9 J STATE OF CRIME IN CEYLON. 



295 



usually administered on the spot, or two or three months' in- 

 carceration in the Factory Jail, down to a trifling fine, being 

 about the range of the sentences. 



I am not aware that any such instances of private admini- 

 stration of justice are to be found in any other part of the 

 world; but so infamous is the conduct of the police of Bengal, 

 and so corrupt the ordinary Company's courts, that a Hindu 

 will frequently submit to anything rather than take his suit 

 to one of them ; and such is their horror of the police 

 officials, that it is no uncommon occurrence, when a crime 

 has been committed in a village, for the entire community to 

 fly to the nearest jungle, rather than fall into the merciless 

 hands of the darogah and his peons. 



I believe, that the official returns of cases tried in Bengal 

 do not shew above half of those actually taken to account ; 

 whilst the extent of undetected crime in India, must also be 

 very considerable ; and this should be borne in mind whilst 

 instituting a comparison between the criminal registers of 

 India and Ceylon. 



I shall, in the present Paper, confine enquiries to the 

 Western Province, hoping to complete it for the remaining 

 districts of the Island in a future contribution. The follow- 

 ing Table exhibits the operation of the Colombo sessions of 

 the Supreme Court during the last six years : — 





Mnrd ei- 

 and 



Homi- 

 cide. 



Other 

 offences 

 against 

 Peison. 



Offences 

 Prop 



With 



violence 



against 

 oity. 



Without 

 violence 



Other 

 Offences. 



Total. 



Convicted. 



Acquitted. 



Convicted. 



<v 



43 



'B 



< 



Convicted. 



j Acquitted. 



Convicted. 



Acquitted. 







Convicted 





Convicte< 



Acquitte* 



Acquittei 



1852 



3 







8 







3 



1 



10 



3 



1 







25 



4 



1853 



6 



7 



2 



4 



7 



3 



15 



4 



3 



3 



33 



21 



1854 



2 







2 



1 



3 



1 



11 





o 



5 



20 



12 



1855 



* 



7 



4 



6 



10 



10 



4 



6 



2 







27 



29 



1856 



2 



1 



4 



2 



4 



7 



10 



1 



3 



1 



23 



12 



1857 



7 



1 



5 



4 



7 



3 



13 



1 



2 







34 



9 



