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THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
and unaccountable persuasion that Ceylon is the most unhealthy 
part of India. Europeans are universally convinced of the 
absurdity of this idea, as they have found by experience, that 
it has in fact the best climate in that part of the world. 
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 
gardeners, 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 calculated 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 obviated, 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 clear. 
This is to be attributed to several causes. Since the British 
