) 
Tamblegam to Trincomalee. 157 
may in a great measure be remedied ; and many beneficial plans 
have already begun to be executed by the intelligent officers who 
at present command in the island. It is probable, also, that 
in time the poorer lands in the north and east parts may be 
employed to raise the necessaries of life, while „the rich plains 
around Columbo are entirely devoted to its valuable spices. 
The parts of the island which remain to be described are 
under a different Sovereign, and inhabited by people of different 
appearance and customs from those on the sea coast. Before 
describing them, therefore, it will be proper to give some ac- 
count of the several races of people who are found on the sea 
coasts, as the description of the inland country must necessarily 
be interspersed with observations on the manners of its inha- 
bitants. 
