NO. 47. — 1896.] EARLY LEGISLATION. 



101 



One Proclamation is said by the Index to contain the 

 privileges allowed to washermen and their wives profes- 

 sing the reformed religion, and another prohibits the grazing 

 of animals, except horses, in the streets of the Fort. 



The Proclamation of May 26, 1723, proclaims that those 

 that are found guilty of robbery are to be for the first offence 

 whipped and branded and put to hard labour in chains for 

 the space of twenty-five years, and for the second offence to 

 be hanged ; and the Ordinance of August 24, 1746 ? prohibits 

 people from going from one place to another without leave. 



The advertisement of December 14, 1756, prohibits the 

 trade in blue linen, and that of January 8, 1757, declares 

 the coins called blue stivers to be current. 



Another prohibits the carrying of copper money from 

 one place to another throughout Ceylon. Natives were pro- 

 hibited from offending Europeans in any manner whatso- 

 ever on pain of being whipped, branded, and put in chains. 



To quote more would be monstrous long, and not to be 

 endured. 



A discussion followed the reading of the Paper, in which Messrs. 

 0. M. Fernando, J. Gk C. Mendis, D. W. Ferguson, J. Harward, and 

 Eev. F. H. de Winton took part. 



6. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. H. White for his Paper, on 

 a motion proposed by Mr. D. W. Ferguson and seconded by Mr. G. A. 

 J oseph. 



7. The Meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair. 



25—96 



C 



