NO. 51.— 1900.] CEYLON HISTORY, 1630. 



131 



three masses said for an alms of three larins to the funeral officers, 

 being Christians only in name, and as much for the grave, burial, 

 and solemnities, which comes to mount up to three xerafins, when for 

 two larins it is certain that any one of them would cut off the head of 

 his own* father. According to this, which is certain and infallible, it 

 is necessary to discuss whether the Constitution should be^carried out 

 in its entirety in this part with this people, because there are some so 

 poor that neither have they got a bit of cloth to cover their naked- 

 ness, much less to enshroud them, and to say masses, and perform 

 their burial, as the said Constitutions order,which, nevertheless, always 

 remain at the disposition of the Rectors, nor do all have the same 

 consideration, and they force from them the alms which they cannot 

 give them : so that for this reason as well as on account of other 

 grievances of taking away their sons for doctrine up to eighteen and 

 twenty years without their helping their fathers in their husbandry, 

 and in other labours, in addition to the annoyances referred to of the 

 tenants, and the orders of the Governors for the war, not only do they 

 cling to their heathendom and avoid coming to a knowledge of their 

 salvation, but rather give to the devil our holy law. God of his 

 mercy grant them the remedy, since so long as they are treated with 

 such rigours neither will they be Christians more than in name, if they 

 are so and subject themselves to it, nor will the spiritual conquest 

 ever have an end ; and to this I set my hand. In Colombo, the 13th 

 of March, 1630. — Ambrosio da Freitts da Camaea. 



