No. 61. — 3 908.] Portuguese m ceylon. 



105 



addition a levy was imposed upon the villages. * Though this 

 latter custom was viewed with disfavour, it was decided to 

 leave the matter in the hands of the general. The vidanes 

 had also the control of a large body of service tenants, where 

 labour was diverted towards securing them private profits 

 by the manufacture of arms to be sold outside the Island, to 

 the considerable detriment of the king's revenue. It was 

 not considered desirable to have natives in such offices, as 

 they obtained thereby control over the men of war, and were 

 thus enabled to revolt with facility. For instance, Simao 

 Correa had nine of the best korales, and the only service he 

 had to render was to supply seven hundred lascorins — a duty 

 for which two korales would have amply sufficed. He had 

 once, like his brother,-)* risen in revolt and joined the enemy. 

 In March, 1611, some soldiers had deserted and escaped to 

 Mannar, where they were followed by the vidane and the 

 ouvidor and shot down ; it was asserted that this was done 

 by Correa's command, owing to a grudge he had against one 

 of the soldiers. The king was anxious that he should be 

 sent to Goa with his family, as he was considered too dangerous 

 a subject to be allowed to remain in Ceylon any longer ; 

 but this order was cancelled on Don Hieronymo's report of 

 the importance of his services. The king further desired that 

 the Sinhalese vidanes should be replaced by selected Portuguese 

 appointed for shorter periods, on condition of their residing 

 within their districts. Don Hieronymo, however, pointed out 

 that the country was not ready for so great a change, as 

 the natives would resent the deprivation of the honours and 

 ofiices to which they had been accustomed ; he promised 

 however to introduce the system gradually in the more 

 settled districts, while steps would be taken to reduce the 

 number of lands they held, the surplus being distributed 

 among the more deserving lascorins. The viceroy had 



* " It was usual when one committed suicide, having previously 



denounced some person as the cause, for the Dissawe to exact 



a fine from the party denounced, under the term of Pala." — D'Oyly. 



"In a case of a suicide occurring in a village, the Sake- 



Balanda inflicted a fine on the inhabitants." — Davy's Ceylon, p. ISO. 



f Domingos. 



I 20-08 



