50 



Statistical Account of the 



soldiers, pensioners, or descendants of such, and in general 

 hold small Government employments, such as peons, &c. 



The Dutch descendants generally find employment as 

 Clerks, Post-holders, &c. It is greatly to be regretted that 

 this class relies so much on the support of Government; they 

 possess qualities which one would expect to adapt them for 

 the life of tradesmen; and if so employed they would be better 

 off and much more independent; some foolish prejudice is the 

 only obstacle to this desirable change. The majority, I believe, 

 adhere to the Dutch and Protestant Church. 



The Portuguese descendants now form on the whole a very 

 degraded class, and seem to be looked down upon by all ; they 

 profess Roman Catholicism. 



The low country Singhalese employ themselves in keeping 

 boutiques or taverns, trading in salt, cultivating cocoanut 

 gardens, &c. They have to a great extent forgotten Boodhism, 

 and for the most part seem to have no fixed opinion on re- 

 ligious matters, changing their faith with astonishing non- 

 chalance at the call of interest or whim. 



The Singhalese who live in the jungle pattoos treat those 

 of the coast with much scorn; they adhere with tolerable 

 firmness to Boodhism, but have not failed to conjoin with this 

 comparatively pure faith, countless superstitions borrowed 

 from other nations. Latterly, owing to the sloth and ignorance 

 of the priests, many of the people are becoming indifferent to 

 Boodhism, and while one constantly finds Vihares going to 

 ruin, few if any are rising to supply their places. 



A large number of Tamul coolies annually pass through 

 the District on their way to and from the Coffee estates in the 

 interior; of these not a few take up their residence about 

 Putlam or other villages, being employed as carters, placed in 

 charge of young cocoanut plantations, &c. 



There is still one race to be mentioned, many of the customs 

 prevalent among which are singular and worthy of attention; 

 I refer to the Mookwas. These people are Christian Tamuls, 

 and are found, I believe, solely along the coast and to the north 



