No. 41.— 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 455 



the largest and most powerful in the East, it gradually grew 

 weaker and weaker than what it had once been, and it proved 

 what a philosopher once said in comparing the prosperity 

 and greatness of kingdoms and states to the ebb and flow 

 of the sea. In the beginning it was governed as an empire, 

 but afterwards it was divided into many small states ; the 

 greater subjects began to call themselves lords, then princes, 

 and from rebellious tyrants became kings, usurping under 

 that title the jurisdiction and lordship of lands which they 

 marked out in their greed by force, being by right of arms all 

 that remained to them, and with the power the title to reign. 

 In this way the Island was divided into many states ; there 

 appeared more chieftains or titulary persons than princes : for 

 within a space of eighty leagues to the west there were the 

 kingdoms of Cota and Columho, then of Reigan, and in the 

 extreme southern point that of Gale, which borders on the 

 east with that of Jaula, and on the north that of Seitavaca ; 

 Candid and Uva are in the heart of the Island, and to the 

 east of it Vilacen : the maritime parts opposite these being 

 Batecalou in the east and Cota in the west ; then more 

 removed Triquilamale, Soufragad, Mature, and Cottar, and 

 above all, in ten degrees north, lies the port of Ja fanapatan, 

 with the island of Manar* 



There was only a shadow of its ancient power left when 

 the Portuguese dominion took over the Island. It was 

 divided again, altering not only the form of Government, 

 but also the names of its kingdoms, for those which were 

 under our jurisdiction were reduced to provinces, leaving 

 only with the name of kings those of Candia, Uva, 

 Jafanapaian, with those of the Varias,\ Disavas (which 

 are like unto our Counts), part of Batecalou, Pacar- 

 diva, and Balane, all feudatories to this Crown, and also 

 its bitterest foes. The remaining lands under the name of 

 Corlas, which correspond to Provinces, were brought under 



° Kotte ; Colombo ; Rayigama ; Galle ; Yale ; Sltavaka : Kandy ; Uva : 

 Velassa ;. Batticaloa ; Trincomalee ; Sabaragamuwa ; Matara ; Kottiyaru ; 

 Jaffna ; Mannar. — B., Hon. Sec. f Wanniyas.— B,, Hon. Sec 



