300 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



In this instance, the convictions have run tolerably even, 

 the preponderance of the acquittals having been, as in most 

 other courts, in cattle cases. The average for these three 

 years shews the convictions to have amounted to no less than 

 nearly 55 per cent of the persons charged, — a very favorable 

 result, as compared with other Courts in this Province. 



Return of Acquittals and Convictions in the District Court of Kalutara, 

 for the three years ending December 81st, 1857. 





Offences 

 against 

 Person. 



Offences 

 against 

 Property 



Cattle 

 Stealing. 



Other 

 Offences. 



Total. 





0> 





a; 



H=S 



0> 



+3 







a; 





a; 







O, 



+3 



_o 





o 





-1-3 



o 



+3 









"> 



cj 



© 



"> 

 S 



'B 



o 



'> 

 S 



'£ 



o 





o 



a 



'3 



o 





o 



O 



< 



o 



O 



< 



O 



O 



< 



o 

 O 



<5 



o 



Q 



< 



1855 







10 







1 



4 



11 



1 



1 



5 



23 



1856 ... 



2 



3 







2 



3 



35 





37 



6 



77 



1857 ... 



2 



2 



1 



6 



1 



28 







5 



4 



41 



It will be at once apparent, that the cases brought into this 

 Court are much more difficult to deal with than in other 

 instances. The habits of the people go far to account for the 

 difficulty the authorities meet with in obtaining convictions, 

 which here have not averaged above 10 per cent, during the 

 three years under notice. The greater number of persons 

 accused of "other offences," have been charged with rioting. 



The Police Courts will now claim our attention ; and first 

 amongst these, both in importance and amount of work per- 

 formed, is the Colombo Magistrate's Court. The Table below 

 shews the number of Police cases instituted and decided in 

 each of the last years in this Court. 



