]S T 0. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DB CEYLAN. 



469 



tribute of two elephants a year, which was an acknowledg- 

 ment that he knew the straits we were in, and the idolater 

 gave in easily so as not to push us to extremities. 



Such was the state of affairs in Ceylan when our Con- 

 stantino de Sa, who succeeded Don Nuno Alveres, arrived to 

 govern it. 



CHAPTER III. 



The Authority, Jurisdiction, and Forces of the 

 Portuguese Generals in the Island ; its 

 Fertility, Religion, Rites, and Customs 

 of the Natives. 



It was a matter of serious deliberation to the Crown of 

 Portugal the election of a Captain-General and Governor 

 for the Government of Ceylan, for besides this title, which 

 was very necessary to give prestige to the conquest, it was 

 moreover a subject of the greatest importance as to the 

 forces which were to accompany him, his powers of adminis- 

 tration to enable him to govern with equal authority both 

 in peace and war time. Considering all these things, he 

 represented to the Zing alas the person and authority of 

 their Emperors ; they made to him the Zwribaya (profound 

 reverence), called him Highness, and used all the insignia of 

 royalty. The administration of justice was done verbally 

 without any further judicial procedure ; all cases were 

 disposed of by his arbitration alone. He also elected the 

 Modeliares (judges), who assisted him with their counsel 

 and votes, also two Motiares (secretaries)* for the despatch of 

 ordinary business. In these functionaries were combined all 

 the tribanals of the Government, over whom ruled, with 

 absolute power, the General, preserving at the same time the 

 suzerainty of the native princes : but, as they were so 

 barbarous, and distinguished nothing between the divine and 



° Mudaliyars, Mohottiyas. — B., Hon. Sec. 



