98 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIV. 



The Protectionist Regulation No. 11 of 1806 must have 

 necessitated the use of the book of logarithms in every 

 ■" hopper " boutique. Article 4 runs : — 



The smallest loaf or muffin shall weigh four ounces Dutch. When 

 .a bag of wheat shall exceed the price of nine rix dollars, but not exceed 

 twelve, then the muffin shall not be sold for more than three pice and 

 a half. 



There was, moreover, a tax on ornaments, facetiously 

 styled the "Joy* Tax," which was rented like the arrack farms 

 now-a-days. 



In spite of its name it was not popular. In June, 1800, 

 certain inhabitants of Negombo assembled in a riotous and 

 unlawful manner, insulted the renter of the " Joy tax" and 

 put him in fear of his life. A force of soldiers was despatched 

 to the scene. The Proclamation which tells us this enacts 

 that the wearing of a comb made of horn would not subject 

 any person to the payment of the tax. 



In the present day there is an export duty on combs made 

 of horn paid by passengers, in the fond belief that they are 

 made of tortoise-shell. 



While speaking of ornaments, it should be noted that the 

 red cap of the policeman first appeared above the horizon 

 in 1806. Regulation No. 6 of 1806 enacts that as the 

 number of robberies and other offences of late committed 

 render it necessary that some police regulations should be 

 immediately made, there shall be one or more headmen called 

 " police officers" in each of the villages within the British 

 settlements. In 1807 the Pettah and gravets of Colombo 

 were divided into fifteen streets, and twenty-eight constables 

 were appointed, equipped with rattles, for the more speedy 

 summoning of the neighbours and other constables. Their 

 duties were to seize all persons troubling the public repose, 

 to take particular care that all billiard houses were punctu- 

 ally shut up at 10 o'clock at night, and that keepers of 

 billiard tables took licenses from the Sitting Magistrates 



* Of course a corruption of Fi.joyau. — B., Hon. Sec. 



