84 The Veddahs of Bintenne, 



The population has increased gradually of late years, but it 

 is not easy to say what relation it bears to former times, as no 

 records appear to have been kept, and very little interest to 

 have been taken about the people by the Dutch or the Kan- 

 dyan Government. Our attention at present will be directed 

 almost exclusively to the Veddah population of this region, 

 forming, as is supposed, about one half of the number here 

 given. Several intermarriages having taken place between the 

 two peoples, it is not easy to make an accurate estimate of 

 each. — Various are the conjectures entertained as to the origin 

 of the Veddahs. That which obtains most credit is the fol- 

 lowing: that the Veddahs originally formed a part of a Sin- 

 ghalese community resident on the coast of India, and were 

 from thence transported to this Island at a very early date 

 for certain offences, before the Singhalese as a people came 

 to these shores. It is certainly probable that they were 

 among the first, if not the first, inhabitants of the Island. 



Their language is a corrupt dialect of the Singhalese; 

 being mixed up to a large extent with Singhalese people, they 

 understand the common language and can speak it, but among 

 themselves they generally prefer their own inferior dialect. 

 As they have little to do with the Tamuls,the majority of them, 

 unlike the coast Veddahs, are quite unacquainted with the 

 Tamul language. Their present habits, as contrasted with 

 their former, in many instances present the aspect of civiliza- 

 tion and improvement. Formerly they lived entirely in holes 

 in the rocks, and wandered about the jungle, living on nothing 

 but yams, honey, and flesh, procured in hunting. They were 

 very wild in their character and shunned human society as 

 much as possible. They clothed themselves with the bark of 

 trees and leaves, and had no fixed habitation. Since the 

 English Government, about six or seven years ago, took an 

 interest in these unhappy outcasts, and calling them together 

 built them houses, planted trees for them, and supplied them 

 with food, they were brought to abandon, to some extent, 



