534 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON), [^ 7 OL. XI. 



pomp and ceremony the further they are away irom their 

 king — a most important thing, necessary for the arrogance of 

 the age and useful to the monarch and vassals: if the corruption 

 of the times had not allowed each one to be the arbitrator, 

 and his own master of excesses as he was of vices. 



The Chinese, who are great masters of political economy, 

 give (according to some writers) limits and rules to their 

 Mandarins, who are their governors, for their ceremonial 

 and their manner of living ; never allowing more than they 

 themselves and the provinces which they govern can pay 

 for in their families and households. For the king himself 

 pays and provides them with all that is necessary for their 

 living and entertainments according to the dignity of their 

 office ; but if they exceeded the public expenditure they 

 are severely punished. In this way all excess and vain 

 display, which are such scandals to States, never occur, 

 envy and rivalry are avoided, bribery prevented, shame 

 and oppression removed, and the doors thrown open to 

 everybody in the country's service at the same rate. This 

 was also the practice of the Venetains and Genoese, which 

 made their Republics the greatest and richest we know of in 

 Europe. 



It was not necessary to impose these restrictions on our 

 Governor : he did not wish to add to the splendour of his 

 person and office, but what was only absolutely necessary, 

 for he put all his parade in serving God and his king with 

 those qualities which make a perfect minister, such as zeal, 

 disinterestedness, and temperance. His ambition was for 

 honour, not for wealth : the latter he disregarded as if he was 

 very rich; but he thirsted for the former. In this way he 

 governed, respected, beloved, and looked up to with the 

 approbation and admiration of the whole States of India, 

 when the year [1]624 came to a close. 



