Chap. XVII.—B. P.] 
THE RAMA INDIAN. 
279 
tinguished among their neighbours for their intempe¬ 
rance, and for the sanguinary conflicts which took 
place among them at times when they were under 
the influence of ardent spirits; yet they welcomed the 
visits of the missionaries, and gladly acceded to the 
proposal to erect a school-house amongst them. This 
was effected early in 1858, and soon afterwards a mis¬ 
sionary and his wife went to reside there. The refor¬ 
mation which then took place in the entire population 
of the island was truly astonishing; a visitor to the 
coast in November, 1859, describes the condition of the 
people as follows :— u During my short stay in this 
place, I visited nearly every family on the island, and 
was much pleased with what I heard and saw. The 
houses, indeed, are roughly built, and thatched with 
the palm-leaf, and the floors are of clay; but the 
dwellings are divided into apartments, and there is a 
degree of neatness and cleanliness about them. The 
people were decently clad, and appeared to be very 
happy. When I contrasted the present condition of 
these people with their past history, even with what 
they were three years ago, it seemed little short of a 
miracle. Three years ago, when the Eev. G. Feurig 
used to come occasionally to preach to these people, 
they were little better than a set of drunken savages, 
practising all manner of iniquities; now they are 
decent, sober, and listen earnestly to their teachers.” 
I can bear unqualified testimony to the truth of the 
above. No Indians on the coast can compare with 
these Eamas for respectability. They seem to be 
quite a community by themselves. Their very dress 
