364 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. X. 



under the Governments of Wijayo and his immediate 

 successors, in the first century and a half after the conquest, 

 may perhaps be better understood and appreciated by 

 comparing them with what has been done in modern times, 

 in countries enjoying the advantages which science has 

 conferred, and possessing an amount of wealth and resource 

 which may be fairly known or estimated. Take, for instance 

 and comparison, what has been done in the same country, 

 Ceylon, under British rule during nearly a century of 

 occupation, bearing in mind that the natural resources of 

 the Island have been supplemented by several millions of 

 capital, some thousands of Britain's most energetic and 

 intelligent sons to employ it, and nearly 300,000 Tamil coolies 

 imported to aid in carrying out the work that has been 

 accomplished. All these extra advantages, as well as the most 

 modern appliances and experience, have been exercised 

 under the favourable conditions of a powerful Government 

 and uninterrupted peace. The most sceptical mind could 

 not fail to be convinced by such a comparison of the great 

 resources of labour and wealth the ancient inhabitants of this 

 Island must have possessed, and the energy they displayed 

 five centuries before the Christian era. Leaving antiquarians, 

 anthropologists, and others to puzzle out the problem of the 

 Yakho pedigree, and to make of it what they may, no 

 sophistry can deprive the people of Ceylon in the time of 

 Wijayo of the lustre of a degree of high intelligence and 

 prolific industry of which their works bear witness, without 

 involving in the wreck the superstructure supported, as 

 Tumour states, " by all the evidences that could contribute 

 to verify the annals of any country." 



Pursuing the application of the principles laid down in 

 the preceding chapter, which regulate and determine the 

 course and development of national industries in general, to 

 the facts of ancient history, it will in the sequel appear 

 what were the nature and condition of the chief of those 

 industries which conferred upon this Island the wealth of 

 which the facts just adduced afford indubitable proof. 



