PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS. 



iih 



The following papers were then read' — 



On the air-breathing fishes of Ceylon by Rev. B. Boake. 



On Devii Worship by D. De Silva Gooneratne Modliar. 



Buddha's First Sermon translated by Bev. D. J. Gogerly, con- 

 tributed by Eev. R, S. Hardy, 



The Origin of the Sinhalese language by James Alwis, Esq. 



Buddha's discourse on caste by L. De Zoysa, Esq. 



On the poisoning properties of the Calotropis Gigantea by W. 

 C. Ondaatjie, Esq. 



General Meeting, September 3rd, 1864. 



Rev. B. Boake, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary made a brief statement in reference to the posi- 

 tion of the Society and the arrangements in regard to the Museum. 



Last year Sir C. MacOarthy promised a public grant for the 

 purpose of enlarging the Society's rooms, to enable it to receive the 

 •collection presented by the Military Medical Department. On the 

 faith of this promise the Society paid to the Medical Department 

 from its limited funds about £502, being the value of the cases and 

 stands containing the collection. A vote of £513 was placed in 

 the Supply Bill for 1864 for enlarging the premises, but was 

 afterwards withdrawn. This year the Committee applied to Go- 

 vernment for £100 to enable it to receive a portion of the Military 

 Museum within the existing premises, to which request the Go- 

 vernment replied that there were no funds at its disposal, and the 

 vote could not be entertained in the Supplementary Supply Bill 

 for this year. The balance of the Society's funds in the hands of 

 the Treasurer was only £15, it was therefore impossible to go on 

 with the printing of the Journal. 



The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society: — 



Messrs. R. Tatham, J. Winzer, C. Ferdinand, J. Martensz, W. 

 II. Harrison, B, Jones. 



The following new rules was proposed and adopted:— 



" That members returning from Europe be allowed to rejoin 

 without any further payment than the current subscription," 



