CO882-(1-2) — Page 81

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 882

لسياسيا

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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3. Above all, the roads, so far from being regarded as a benefit, are not unfrequently regarded as a nuisance, by opening a way for all these inva- sions of strangers, and leading crowds of low- country strollers into their solitary retreats.

The roads, too, often intersect their paddy fields, and it is in vain to try to reconcile them by talking of the increased value indirectly given to the other lands, and the direct addition made to the value of the rice itself. They cannot comprehend the one,

and as to the other, they disclaim the passion for money; they refuse to sell their rice, which they grow only for their own consumption; and having sufficient for themselves, they refuse to extend their cultivation in order to raise produce for sale to strangers.

A Kandyan does not work above four months out of the twelve, collecting his two harvests in each year, and spending the other eight months in absolute sloth and inaction; and though the value of rice within the last ten years has risen at least four or six fold, the Kandyans cannot be induced to expend a few days more labour, and bring a few more acres under crop, in order to sell the produce to the planters. They uniformly refuse to do so. It is still more hopeless to persuade them that these operations will enrich the country, by creating a demand for labour. The Kandyans won't labour.

In the papers laid before the Committee on the Buddhist question, the Committee will remember that the priests objected to the emancipation of the temple tenants by commuting their present feudal services into a rent, out of which the priesthood might hire labourers for the temple duties. They strenuously entreated that Lord Torrington might not carry this into effect, as the Kandyans would not labour for hire, and the Malabar Coolies, not being Buddhist would not be available for temple services.

Such is the fact--the Kandyans would not hire themselves as labourers, even for the temples.

The former system of Raja Karin, by making labour compulsory on all but the privileged classes, rendered it to some extent degrading in all others. Its abolition removed the compulsion, but the de- gradation remains, and except the very lowest and most degraded caste, no Kandyan will labour for

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wages, or work otherwise than in his own paddy field.

*

One of the obstacles to travelling in the Kandyan country is the difficulty of procuring men to carry baggage. In those parts of the country to which the Malabar Coolies do not resort (there being no coffee estates), strangers constantly complain being stopped because the Kandyans refuse to carry their luggage at any price.

of

I have myself found it prudent on such journeys

to bring Malabar Coolies from a distance of 70 or 100 miles, knowing the reluctance of the Kandyan to work for hire.

And yet, at the bidding of a chief or headman, these same people will turn out in crowds to do this service at his orders, notwithstanding the formal abolition of Baja Karia,

Troops and invalids on their march would be much inconvenienced were it not for this interven- tion of the headmen, who turn out the people to supply them with forage, and render other services

for which they are paid. But having learned in 1846, that the chiefs availed themselves of this to intercept the pay, and yet compelled the people, in the name of the Government, to work, I sug- gested to the Governor to put a stop to it by the issue of a fresh proclamation, which was done; but I believe the practice still prevails to some extent.

In 1848, the troops which it was necessary to concentrate in the central provinces during the re- bellion, and especially those which had to march from the eastward to Dambool, could not have made the march from want of Coolies, had it not been for the timely assistance of the camp followers

who accompanied the reinforcement from Madras.

It is owing to this feeling, that from 50,000 to 60,000 Coolies annually carry away from 10% to 181, each, earned in the Kandyan hills, whilst thou- sands of unemployed Kandyans look on in sullen idleness, and refuse to touch one shilling of the wages offered them by the planters.

Within the last twelve months a éhange is taking place in this respect, owing, it is said, to the taxing ordinances of Lord Torrington, to pravide for which the peasantry are now listening to the offers of the planters and socepting wages on in soffer exities. I have received a letter from one of the most

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extensive planters in Ceylon, Messrs. Worms, which in members of the Rothschild family, relation to this subject they say: (Bee the Letter itself.)

Nature in her profuse bounty has enabled the Kandyan peasant to live in this contented idleness, his forests supply bim with home and fuel, his paddy field with food, and his cotton-trees with a covering, and his ambition leads him to look for little more in the shape of luxuries.

Ingenuity has no share in providing him with a support, and hence his contempt of improvement and rejection of education.

In short, stationary and stubborn he looks on in stupid irritation at the change passing around him, at operations in which he is no agent, and fancies himself no gainer; at innovations which he cannot understand, and institutions which he cannot ap- preciate, and instead of his accustomed solitudes and immemorial habits, he finds his privacy intruded on by successions of strangers, and his forests dis. appearing before the rising plantations of Euro- peans, who often treat him with unkindness and contempt.

Thèse are changes which are not only rife and universal throughout every district of the ancient Kandyan kingdom, but are confined to it, because the Kandyan hills from thefr altitude are alone adapted to coffee planting.

Hense that irritation and disaffection in the Kandyan province, which is not perceptible else- where. And in these facts we discern causes, per- manent, extensive, and deeply felt, which account for the existing disaffection of the Kandyans, which would be not only erroneously but inadequately accounted for, bý ascribing it to any temporary im- pulses, or may recent 'menstires of the Government.

National Character.

It admits of no doubt that the explosion of the Suddenness of the explosion ex- revok in July, 1848, was hasty and premature on plained.

the part of the lenders.

The country was ripe for the movement, but the organimtion and cenourt were incomplete, when the exposure of the deception practised on the people in relation to the insen, rendered it essential for the chiefs to act promptly.

Their knowledge of the populer dislike to Ba- ropeans, led them to balleva

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universality