( 
30^ CEYLON 
the chief mart for cinnamon, and where a small fort ought to be 
erected to protect the peelers ; and also from Trincomalee, the 
great naval arsenal of our Eastern empire. In point of salubrity. 
Point de Galle is superior to any other place, and its situation is in 
the finest, though the wildest part of the island. It is the most 
convenient station for all the ships employed in conveying the 
overland dispatches up the Red Sea or to Bussorah, and the 
Indian Presidencies. Trincomalee itself has been spoken of, but 
many years must elapse before its vicinity will produce sufficient 
for the garrison and fleet, and the increased population which 
always attends the capital. Our situation is perfectly dissimilar 
from that of the Dutch : they had no place to which they could 
look for supplies nearer than Batavia, and a communication with 
that place was rendered difficult, by not having the command of 
the sea ; they were therefore obliged to keep up such a force as 
would permanently defend the island. We can at any time draw 
supplies from our Indian possessions, and have no enemy capable 
of intercepting them. In the height of the S.W. monsoon they can 
be sent mostly by land. The three great points of Columbo, Galle, 
and Trincomalee, should be fortified so as to resist any sudden 
attack ; but any thing more is unncessary. Jaffnapatam is of great 
importance, but is less liable to attack, and is nearer to the conti- 
nent, whence relief can be procured. 
The Cingalese are distributed into many casts, and subdivisions 
of casts. Of these, the first is that of the Vellalas, or cultivators of 
the land ; from the two superior classes of which are chosen the 
Modeliars and principal native officers of the government ; from the 
inferior, the lower officers, and lascaryns or militia-men. The cast of 
