52 



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



enough to act upon this conviction without the constant 

 admonitions of headmen. Like all Asiatics, they become 

 utterly helpless if unprovided with chiefs. 



Domestic Animals, 



Of the domestic animals, no breed is, so far as I am aware, 

 peculiar to the District. Large quantities of cattle are annu- 

 ally brought over from the Coast, and are bought up to be 

 employed for the ploughing of paddy fields as draught or as 

 pack cattle. There appear to be several breeds, but no trouble 

 is taken in preserving or improving any. The largest and 

 handsomest are not considered so profitable as those of moderate 

 size, but on this subject the natives appear to be gradually 

 altering their opinion. Buffaloes in large numbers stray over 

 the plains and through the jungles of the District; they are 

 sluggish animals, are possessed of more physical strength 

 than the common cattle, but are slow-paced and soon sicken 

 and die if they have not frequent opportunities of immersing 

 themselves in water. They are used in farming, and are also 

 commonly employed in carts, a practice which, I believe, is 

 not general throughout the Island. Sheep and goats of several 

 breeds are found in considerable numbers all along the coast. 

 Towards the interior the natives entertain some prejudice 

 against the rearing of them \ and indeed, owing to the habits of 

 these animals, it would be troublesome keeping them in a 

 District covered with forest and abounding in leopards. 



Of the larger cattle, it may, I think, with safety be said that, 

 like guns, one-half at least are purchased, not from an expec- 

 tation that they will yield any direct profit to the owner, but 

 simply as a means of investing money ; thus they frequently 

 form portions of the marriage gifts among the natives ; and 

 till the present high rate of interest ceases, and the people 

 understand to some extent the principles of banking, and feel 

 confidence in these establishments, the system will doubtless 



