THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
259 
unmercifully, under pretence of collecting contributions for 
his Majesty. 
These great officers generally reside at court, and person- 
ally attend upon the king, who is, perhaps, afraid to allow 
persons endowed with so much authority to remain in their 
provinces and have an opportunity of courting popularity. 
As the Dissauvas, therefore, cannot attend in person, they 
have inferior officers under them, who act entirely by their 
orders, either in collecting the kings revenues, or in squeez- 
ing the people for the emolument of their patrons. These 
deputy officers are known by the names of Roterauts, Vi- 
tanies, and Courlevidanies, and are resident in the different 
provinces and districts to which they are appointed. An 
inferior rank of officers to these is composed of Conganies, 
Aratjes, &c. who hold the same stations here as among the 
Cinglese, and fulfil the duties of constables and police 
officers. 
This whole plan of government forms a regular system of 
oppression, . which falls with the severest weight on the lower 
orders of the people. Few have the courage to appeal 
against the unjust extortions of the higher ranks, and few r er 
still meet with any redress. It is the policy of the king, in 
the true timid spirit of despotism, to prevent any good 
understanding between his officers and the people they 
govern; and for this reason he is by no means displeased to 
observe the former exasperating the latter against themselves 
by oppression. Although the persons of the peasantry be in 
’ L L 2 
