366 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
I have said of its present state, and the improvement 
of which it is capable, it is evident that no fair es- 
timate of the future revenue can be formed from its 
actual state. By the reports of the Dutch board of trade 
and revenue for Ceylon, it appears that it was from 
twenty to thirty years back able to defray its own ex- 
penditure ; and at times the balance was even in favour 
of the island. The increase of military establishments and 
expenses, however, which had taken place in consequence of 
the destructive wars between the Europeans and the na- 
tives, joined to that corruption and inattention to public affairs 
which began gradually to undermine the prosperity of the co- 
lony, soon raised the expenditure far beyond the produce 
of the revenue. In 1777> and the following year, there 
was a great deficiency. In 1796, the revenue amounted 
to no more than 611,704 livres ; while the charges of 
the establishment were 1 ,243,338 livres : so that the ex- 
pense of Ceylon to Holland was 631,034 livres, or 3657,934 
sterling. This deficiency was easily made up by the cinna- 
mon, cardamoms, coffee, and other articles sent from the 
island to Europe, as well as by the profits of the pearl- 
fishery, and the imposts laid on the several articles imported 
into Ceylon from other parts of India. 
On the introduction of new improvements into the cul- 
tivation of the island, the establishment of manufactures, 
and the consequent influx of wealth, it is not to be doubted, 
that the revenues levied in the island itself will soon ex- 
6 
