No. 5.— 1849.] 



PRISON DISCIPLINE. 



169 



The tradesmen prisoners are generally well behaved. 

 The few cases of misconduct which occur are generally 

 punished with removal for a day or two to the outdoor 

 gangs, which seldom fails of the desired effect. Serious or 

 oft repeated offences are visited with final dismissal from 

 the trades department, and consequent forfeiture of all 

 earnings. 



The duty of providing employment for the prisoners is 

 entrusted chiefly to that department with the twofold object 

 of completing the erection of the prison and providing for 

 the employment of the prisoners. 



Masons are chiefly employed in the erection of prison 

 buildings, workshops, and on Government buildings within 

 a reasonable distance of the prison. 



Carpenters are similarly employed, and also in the 

 execution of work for the Civil Engineer's department 

 when available. 



Smiths are also employed on the iron work required for 

 the prison, and on making chains and fetters for criminals, 

 iron work for bridges, and other public works. 



Sawyers perform all works required for the public in 

 and about Colombo, and for the cooperage in the department 

 of the Commissariat, 



Stone-cutters, besides dressing all the granite used in the 

 erection of the prison, are constantly employed in cutting 

 stone for bridges and other public works. 



A shoemakers' shop has been opened under the superin- 

 tendence of an European overseer: it has been in operation 

 about six months, and although all those now working at 

 it were previously ignorant of the use of a single tool, the 

 manufacture is so far satisfactory that the prison work is 

 beginning to be much sought after ; upwards of five hundred 

 pairs of shoes of all sizes have been made and disposed of. 

 A cooperage is just being established which promises to be 

 useful hereafter. 



