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Expence of living at Columho. 
The Dutch, to avoid the expence of keeping coast servants, 
introduced the practice of rearing slaves of the African casts, 
and employing Malays, who made very excellent cooks and gar- 
deners, and indeed good servants in every respect, although they 
were kept for a trifle in comparison of the others. It would 
still greatly reduce the expence if the native Ceylonese could 
be employed for domestic purposes. The general idea however 
is, that from their dispositions and habits they are but ill calcu- 
lated for them; it is particularly complained of that they are 
very inexpert and ignorant in the management of horses. I 
cannot, however, see why these objections might not be ob- 
viated, if they were early trained to the different offices of a 
servant. It would be a means of introducing European manners 
and ideas among the natives, and would likewise retain in the 
island a portion of wealth that is carried off by strangers. 
The other articles of life at Columbo, and indeed in every 
part of Ceylon, have for some years been proportionably high. 
They have all advanced very much in price, and vegetables and 
other provisions, that were formerly in the greatest abundance, 
have become equally scarce and dear. This is to be attributed 
to several causes. Since the British took possession of Ceylon, 
there has been a great influx of people of all descriptions, both 
those who only resort hither occasionally for the sake of traffic, 
and such as come with the intention of making it their per- 
manent residence. This influx of strangers was formerly greatly 
restrained by the narrow^ and jealous policy of the Dutch; but 
the liberal policy of our government in encouraging it, although 
a few temporary inconveniences, such as a rise in the price of 
provisions, may be the consequence, lays the foundation of a 
more numerous population, and consequently a future encreasc 
for wealth and prosperity. 
