THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
26s 
allowed to have great weight, and it is therefore probable 
that prejudice has still more. Nor can we suppose, where 
so much depends on the will of individuals, that favour does 
not often triumph over the love of justice ; though indeed the 
judges, if convicted before the prince of unfair dealing, are 
without farther ceremony instantly put to death in his pre- 
sence. Debt is looked upon as a heinous offence in Candy, 
as well as in all other poor countries where there is little 
accumulation of wealth in the hands of individuals. In the 
large lines imposed 011 debtors and those guilty of personal 
injuries, the king never fails to come in for his share. 
The great safe-guard of justice among the Candians is the 
natural mildness and honesty of their dispositions, in which 
they excel all other Indians. In a country so poor, there are 
indeed few temptations to be dishonest or unjust; and it is 
perhaps the rarity of crimes which has made the administra- 
tion of justice be permitted to remain so long defective. 
I have now mentioned all the circumstances worthy of 
notice which I could collect with regard to the natives of 
Ceylon, who live under the dominion of their native prince. 
The Candians, shut up as they are from all intercourse with 
foreign countries, and proud of immemorial independence, 
might be supposed to enjoy amidst their native mountains 
and woods a life of tranquillity and happiness not to be 
looked for among those busy nations whose minds are inflamed 
by luxury and agitated with the thirst of gain. But this is 
far from being the case. The oppression of their governors. 
