P. H. Bahr 
155 
5. General Considerations .—From a perusal of the figures given above, it will be 
seen that the conversion of paddy into cocoanut land in Kurunegala is a com¬ 
mercially sound venture. 
The paddy blocks are naturally a marshy soil, and must therefore be surface 
drained for cocoanut land. I understand that the general configuration of the town 
presents no insuperable obstacles to efficient drainage. 
It only remains to consider how those interested in paddy field cultivation should 
be compensated. The general local feeling appears to be that immediately wet 
cultivation within town limits is prohibited, owners will not sell their lands, so that 
there will be no need for Government to acquire these lands. 
As regards the “ goiyas,” who for generations have been engaged in paddy field 
cultivation, they will no doubt require some sort of compensation for loss of their 
occupation. It may be found practicable to allow them to acquire land elsewhere, 
or to employ them in making and repairing the necessary surface drains. 
The malaria statistics obtained in Kurunegala should be compared 
with similar figures collected in the Southern Province. 
The Tangalla district on the south coast is a hot damp low-lying 
area, the villagers are poor and ill-nourished; their huts are of the 
meanest description constructed of “cadjan,” a sort of cocoanut matting. 
The inhabitants cultivate small plots of millet and citronella grass; 
in the vicinity of some of the villages investigated there are large natural 
swamps and a few irrigated paddy fields. 
The adults, but more especially the children, have an unhealthy 
appearance, they are obviously anaemic, their skins are rough and their 
bellies protuberant. 
Time did not permit me to make a collection of the local ano- 
phelines, but from an examination of 65 Sinhalese villagers of all 
ages I was able to obtain some idea of the intensity of the malaria. 
The spleen rate was 86 - l % and the parasite rate 29'2%. The 
quartan parasite was found eleven times, the tertian parasite twice; 
the subtertian eight times (rings three times, crescents five). Double 
infections were found twice; once tertian and quartan rings; and once 
quartan rings and subtertian crescents. 
In this intensely malarious area nothing has so far been done in the 
way of preventive measures; it is feared that the free distribution of 
quinine by the Government Authorities has had little effect in diminish¬ 
ing the frequency or in preventing fresh infections. 
The natives are in the habit of attending the hospitals and dis¬ 
pensaries only when suffering from an attack of fever, but not during the 
intervals. The compulsory distribution of quinine to gangs of coolies, 
as for instance in the Public Works Department, is an unpopular 
