NO. 47.— 1896.] EARLY LEGISLATION. 



99 



before whom they had to make oath not to suffer disorderly 

 conduct to take place in their houses. The more to prevent 

 licentious debauchery of youth, no debts, either for gambling 

 or liquors used there, were recoverable at law. These con- 

 stables with their rattles had also to look after the butcher 

 and the baker and the drains, and to put out fires. Doubt- 

 less, if the archives of the police office were overhauled many 

 a complaint would be unearthed that P. C. Tweedle Dum 

 had stolen the nice new rattle of P. C. Tweedle Dee. These 

 constables were allowed 10 per cent, of the value of stolen 

 property recovered by them. I believe they generally died 

 in poverty. (The next Regulation but one is for the relief 

 of bankrupts.) 



In 1812 the Collector of Galle was ordered to make a 

 special circuit in Galle and Matara, which were declared to 

 be infested with numerous and daring gangs of robbers. 



In 1813 the new police were introduced into Galle, Trinco- 

 malee, and Jaffna ; in 1815 into Mannar : Negombo got 

 them in 1819 ; and Matara in 1820. 



In 1812 compensation for the loss in exchange between 

 rix dollars and pounds sterling was granted to the European 

 officers and soldiers, and to the Civil Service in lieu of 

 certain advantages, among which was the privilege of land- 

 ing wine and other articles free of Customs duty. This 

 privilege was probably a very valuable one in those days, 

 when heavy drinking of wine went on to an extent quite un- 

 known now. The four-ounce muffin was washed down with 

 copious libations of Port and Madeira. The rates of port 

 charges specify the cooly hire for landing pipes of Port and 

 Madeira. I do not fancy that much of either is drunk now. 



While speaking of diet, I should mention that in 1824 

 the catching of sardines during December and January at 

 Trincomalee was prohibited. Is it to be presumed that 

 there was a Sardine Fund and Committee in those early 

 days, answering to our Trout Fund ? 



A curious law appeared in 1806. It enacted that all per- 

 sons of whatever description in the Province of Jaffna who 



