28 



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



[Vol. XII. 



8. The Hon. Mr. E. C. Bailey in his speeches on the Treasure 

 Trove Bill (November 29, 1876 ; February 13, 1878) put the case very 

 forcibly. There is perhaps little buried treasure in Ceylon, but other 

 antiquities of historical or archaeological value abound in many districts. 



" There was much hidden treasure in India, and much was being 

 perpetually brought to light in various parts of the country, and a 

 very large portion of it was of importance as illustrating either the 

 history, the social habits, religious beliefs, or the artistic skill of the 

 races who inhabited the country in past times. It was therefore an 

 object to prevent articles of this kind being lost or destroyed, and the 

 provision the Bill proposed to make was, he believed, sufficiently 

 liberal to secure to Government an opportunity of purchasing such 

 articles as they might consider of real public interest. Special 

 provisions had been largely introduced into legislation in Europe for 

 this purpose, and had the effect of preserving for national use much 

 valuable property and articles of great historical importance which 

 would otherwise have been destroyed." 



9. The outcome was the insertion of a provision in Clause 16 of 

 Act 16 of 1878, giving "the Government a claim, on the payment of a 

 specified percentage in excess of the intrinsic value, to the possession 

 of such articles as it should consider worthy of preservation" on 

 historic or artistic grounds, in the National Museum. 



Such wise and openhanded inducement to finders to render a true 

 account to Government Officers of all treasure (including antiquities) 

 has worked well in India, and might equally well be tried in this 

 Island. The just statement of the case by the Governor-General in 

 Council cannot be gainsaid. " Due liberality " and " a proper considera- 

 tion for the natural claims and expectations of the finders of treasure " 

 must be exercised, and " the object in view will be defeated if those 

 who may discover treasure are not induced by the prospect of a sufficient 

 reward to make their discoveries known to the Officials of Government." 



10. In this view, I submit that all that is required is a short 

 amending Ordinance, varying the " Interpretation Clause " as above 

 suggested, and modifying the terms of the 6th Clause by declaring 

 the intention of Government to pay the- full value of the materials of 

 any treasure trove (as distinct from their adventitious value as 

 objects of archaeological interest) plus one-fifth of such value, whenever it 

 is decided by Government to acquire such treasure, or any portion of it.* 



11. As a further step towards making the policy of Government 

 regarding the conservation of objects of archaeological value more 

 widely known, I would recommend that the Instructions L, II., 

 III., (Appendix ii. to G. O. 373, page 4) should be printed, mutatis 

 mutandis, and issued to all Heads of Departments, with directions to 

 give them every publicity .| 



12. Copies of the Treasure Trove Ordinance in the vernacular 

 should be freely distributed among the headmen throughout the 

 Island. 



* An amended Ordinance (No. 3 of 1891) has since been passed on the 

 lines suggested. — Hon. Sec. 



f See annexed Government Circular No. 57, of June 26, 1891, drafted by 

 Mr. Bell.— Hon. Sec. 



The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 



I am, &c, 



H. C. P. Bell, 

 Archaeological Commissioner. 



