No. 11.— 1858-9.] CRIME IN CEYLON. ~o05 



cases decided, and as compared with the English and Indian 

 tables of convictions, we shall find them standing as follows : 



Supreme Court, 65 per cent. 



District Courts, 29 „ 



Police Courts, 20 „ 



Average of all, 38 per cent, of cases tried. 



Bengal, 48 ,, 



England, 64 „ 



There is no doubt, that the same cause which leads to the 

 excessive preponderance of offences of a minor character, as 

 compared with the population, when viewed against other 

 countries, goes far to account for the smaller percentage of 

 convictions, especially as Ave find the least percentage in the 

 Police Courts, where this description of cases is dealt with. 

 Whilst we may congratulate ourselves upon the very small 

 amount of actual crime existing in Ceylon, judging fiom. the 

 statistics of the Western Province, we must admit the pre- 

 valence of much strife, dissension, and angry broils amongst 

 the natives, arising partly from quarrels respecting the minute 

 shares into which landed property is frequently subdivided, 

 and partly from the vice of drunkenness, a propensity which, 

 it is to be regretted, is greatly on the increase in many parts 

 of the Island, but especially in the Western and Southern 

 Provinces. It is quite impossible to institute any faithful 

 comparison between the large number of frivolous charges 

 nstituted and dismissed in this and any other country, nor 

 etween the many Police cases, arising out of family and 

 eighbourly disputes, of a trivial character, in which both 

 sides being equally blameable, the Magistrate can do no more 

 than dismiss them with a reprimand and caution to either 

 party. 



There is very little doubt, though the Police records fail to 

 shew such to be the case, that by far the larger portion of 

 feuds and petty assaults have their origin in the neighbour- 

 ing tavern. The personal experience of Police officials and 



