302 JOURNAL 11, A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. 111. 



The figures in this table shew a great irregularity during 

 three of the years under, review, though in the first and last 

 of the period, the numbers agree precisely with each other. 

 An analysis of the records of this Court goes to shew, that 

 the great increase in the number of cases brought forward in 

 1855 and 1856, arose entirely from the District collectors 

 under the Road Ordinance taking out summonses against per- 

 sons liable for the annual tax, without troubling themselves 

 to demand payment in the first instance ; thus endeavouring 

 to make the Police officials the means of collecting the tax 

 instead of themselves. The Magistrate, however, refused to 

 entertain most of these charges ; hence the unusually large 

 number of dismissals, and the apparent small percentage of 

 convictions daring those years. This practice was eventually 

 put a stop to through the interference of the Government 

 Agent, and the cases have once more sunk to their accus- 

 tomed number. 



In the Kalutara returns for three years, ending December 

 31st, 1857, we find a considerable falling off in the number 

 of decisions, as well as in the convictions, during the last 

 year embraced by them. The results are shewn in the ac- 

 companying Table : — 





Cv 











Percentage of 





'-^ 



S3 



as 

 <v 



50 



a 

 O 



a3 

 '5 



£ 



oS 



a; 

 o 



I 



CC 



+3 

 -u 



O 



< 



r. 



!& 



02 



<J2 



r. 



q 



CC 



o 



o 



J: 



"5 



< 



-J. 



m 

 w 



£ 



T. 



£ 



1855 .. 

 1856 



1857 



2157 

 2290 

 2075 



2278 

 2309 

 1900 



300 

 304 

 173 



152 

 175 

 101 



1820 

 1830 

 1626 



m 



13 

 9 



5s 



79^ 

 791 

 85f 



Much as these figures differ from the result of the Colombo 

 Tables, they perhaps do not shew any greater discrepancy 

 than might be anticipated from the different positions of the 



