34 



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



Mr. A. R. Brown, B.A., Trinity College, as the first Anthony 

 Wilkin Student in Ethnology, and he proposes to study the Psy- 

 chology and Sociology of the Veddas. Mr. Brown is thoroughly 

 trained in all methods of experimental psychology suited for 

 field work, and no one who has not had such a training can hope 

 to do that kind of investigation with sufficient accuracy to satisfy 

 the requirements of students at home. Further, Mr. Brown has 

 learnt from Dr. Rivers and myself methods for conducting investi- 

 gations into the sociology of primitive peoples. So much of the 

 work done by those who have not learnt the proper methods is 

 unsatisfactory and incomplete, and ought to be done over again. 

 What Science now demands is accurate, detailed, and exhaustive 

 work ; all this requires training, and cannot be picked up by any 

 one in the field. In addition, Mr. Brown has studied physical 

 anthropology and other subjects that will be of use to him. I 

 write all this to satisfy our Ceylon friends that we are sending out 

 a thoroughly competent person for this class of research. Further, 

 Mr. Brown is a very cultured man, for not only has he taken a first 

 class in the Moral Science Tripos, but he has a wide knowledge 

 of literature. He is a young man with a brilliant future before 

 him, and I sincerely trust he will be afforded every facility that 

 can be granted to him, for I feel certain he is worth it. Any 

 further information you desire I shall be most happy to supply. 

 He hopes to start in about ten weeks' time." Dr. Haddon wrote 

 about the middle of February, so that Mr. Brown, if he does come, 

 should soon be here. Unfortunately, the question of <( ways and 

 means " may just possibly prove a hindrance at the last moment , 

 as his travelling scholarship is not a rich one ; but I trust any 

 difficulty may be got over, and I feel sure anything that His 

 Excellency the Governor and the officers of Government of all 

 ranks, the Members of this Society, and others interested in the 

 Veddas can do to promote Mr. Brown's investigation, or to render 

 him needful assistance, will be readily accorded.* 



Work to be done ; Suggestions to Members. 



Our Vice-President, Mr. J. P. Lewis, has been calling public 

 attention through the Press to the need of a compilation for 

 Ceylon similar to that published by the Indian Government on 

 "Indian Monumental Inscriptions" — Vol. III., being "List of 

 Inscriptions on Tombs or Monuments in Madras," by Julian 

 James Cotton of the Civil Service, having appeared from the 

 Government Press a few months ago. If Members and others 

 in different parts of the Island assisted Mr. Lewis in getting the 

 inscriptions copied, I have no doubt His Excellency the Governor 

 would aid us in the printing and publication. 



So long ago as 1884 the then President (afterwards Sir John F. 

 Dickson) suggested that an interesting Paper, read by Mr. levers, 



* Unfortunately- the Ceylon Government did not see its way to give 

 encouragement or aid for Mr. Brown, and so he went on to the 

 Andamans. — J. F. 



