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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. II., PART II. 



substituted for salted. This scale relates only to the native 

 prisoners ; for Burghers and Europeans beef and bread are 

 substituted for a part of the curry. The cost per diem in 

 the former case is 3%d., for the latter Q\d. 



For the hospital, of course, there are various scales 

 employed, according to the orders of the medical attendant. 



The clothing for the native prisoners is of the simplest 

 kind, consisting only of two slips of blue and white cloth, the 

 cost of which is 9d., and they are expected to last fully three 

 months. European and Burgher prisoners are allowed a 

 straw hat, a jacket and trousers of blue calico, a shirt, and a 

 pair of shoes, the whole costing 12s., or £2. 8s. per annum. 



The bedding for natives is simple— a common straw mat 

 and cumblie ; and for Europeans and Burghers a mattrass, 

 blanket, and pillow. 



The prison hospital is under the immediate care of a 

 medical sub-assistant, who is allowed two prisoners to act as 

 orderlies under him. He visits the whole of the prisoners 

 weekly, and the inmates of the hospital daily. This officer 

 has great need of the utmost vigilance and discretion in 

 reference to the many reported cases of sickness amongst 

 the inmates, who, quite aware as they are of the exceptions 

 from labour of all the hospital patients, constantly resort to 

 every description of feigned illness to gain admission to the 

 sick wards. The obstinacy and endurance of actual suffering 

 on the part of some natives who prefer anything to labour, 

 are almost past belief. 



In the same manner, prisoners sometimes feign insanity 

 to a most remarkable degree — refusing food and playiug 

 the most fantastic tricks to give probability to their case. 

 Instances are on record in which prisoners have starved 

 themselves to death, or brought on fatal maladies from their 

 obstinate determination not to give way. 



The punishments resorted to for offences committed 

 within the prison are flogging, solitary confinement, and 



