110 
Village of Ni gumbo. 
decide the dispute, or punish the offence on the spot, of his 
own authoiity. If the affair appears to be intricate or of suf* 
hcient magnitude, he remits it to the head court at Columbo^ 
with his own opinion and remarks on the evidence^ This in- 
stitution saves an infinity of trouble that would otherwise arise 
from the captious and litigious disposition of the natives. It 
also greatly promotes the distribution of justice, as the president,, 
by taking the evidence on the spot, has an opportunity of ac- 
quiring information which the distance might otherwise prevent 
from reaching the court at Columbo. 
Nigumbo is veiy advantageously situated for carrying on in- 
land trade, particularly with Columbo and its neighbourhood, 
as a branch of tlie Mulivaddy here runs into the sea. At the 
mouth of it is a small harbour, where sloops and other small 
vessels often put in and land their cargoes, which are after- 
wards conveyed up the Mulivaddy, and then, by canals which 
communicate with it, to the lake which skirts the town of 
Columbo. The country through which this communication is 
carried on is perfectly flat for a great way in every direction, 
and abounds with considerable lakes and rivers, which give the 
greatest facility to forming canals. The sides of the rivers and 
canals are skirted with thick woods and jungle, which afford a 
most grateful shade to the passengers from the scorching heat 
of the sun, and also supply the inhabitants with plenty of fuel, 
as the rivers do with the greatest abundance of fish» With 
both of these last articles Ceylon is much better provided 
than any other part of India which I have visited. 
One of the principal articles exported from Nigumbo by the 
inland communications consists of fish. This trade is considered 
as the property of government, and is annually farmed out for 
