114 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XXI. 



their belief that they had kept up their religion even up to date. 

 As regards the Dutch, they never heard of Dutch songs now ; 

 and as regarded their religion, the last minister was his namesake, 

 David Morgappa. After him they had ministers appointed, but 

 not in regular succession. 



10. Mudaliyar Mr. G. Weerakoon said that the Portuguese 

 occupation had served a useful purpose, and paved the way for 

 the civilization introduced by the Dutch and the English. 



11. Mudaliyar Mr. W. F. Gunawahdhana stated that he had 

 observed one important statement for which authority was not 

 quoted. Mr. Pieris had identified the illustrious Mudaliyar Don 

 Fernando with another illustrious man, Samarakoon Rala. He 

 should give his authority for this identification. 



Further, in the course of his remarks Mr. Pieris had raised the 

 question whether there was sanctuary under the Sinhalese kings. 

 There clearly was; for when Keppitipola and Madugalla Dissave 

 were captured after the rebellion of 1818, the latter sought 

 sanctuary at the shirine of the Tooth, from where hewate, however, 

 removed by the guard who were escorting him. 



Mr. Pieris had sajd that there was a cruel custom among Sinha- 

 lese kings known as mardlaya, by which the king took over the 

 property of every man who died. The speaker considered such 

 a custom impossible. For, the consequence would have been 

 the transfer of all property in the kingdom to the Crown. As the 

 speaker understood it, mardlaya was the same as the fine which 

 was customary in England in feudal times, and in Ceylon at the 

 present day, in the shape of the rate on probates and letters of 

 administration. 



Mr. Pieris's view that the title "Dom" or " Don" was bestowed 

 by the Portuguese only on the nobility was not supported by facts. 

 There were times when the Portuguese coffers ran low, and one 

 of the means then adopted by the authorities for raising money 

 was to bestow the coveted title on such of the native gentry as 

 were willing to pay for the honour. The speaker believed that 

 the largest sum by this means was raised in the kingdom of 

 Jaffnapatam. 



12. Mr. P. E. Pieris, in reply, said that as regards the title 

 " Dom " he was bound to confess that he was not thinking about 

 Jaffna. In the case of Jaffna the Portuguese had not much to do 

 with it ; he could not give the date straight off, but certainly they 

 attempted to take the place in 1560, and were totally repulsed. 

 It was about thirty years later that they established their 

 supremacy, though it is curious to find the term "Dom" used by 

 all the Mudaliyars who signed the Tesawalamai. 



So far as the official designation of "Dom" was concerned, it 

 was given only to noblemen and Sinhalese of the highest rank ; 

 that could be easily ascertained by checking the names given 

 in the Portuguese records of those engaged in the fights. If it 

 was a " Dom," it was a nobleman. Numerous Arachchies, for 

 instance, are mentioned, but none of them were " Doms." He 



