194
 

Ceylon in 1893.
 

1857 he sent all the available troops in this Island to assist in the

suppression of the Indian Mutiny.

  In 1856 Sir Henry Ward commenced the restoration of the long-

neglected Irrigation System of the Island ; and in 1857 the ancient

Village Councils were revived, chiefly with a view to  the promotion

and enforcement of Irrigation Works.

  In the same year the first sod was  cut of the first Railway in

Ceylon.

  In 1858 Ceylon was united with India by the Electric Telegraph.

  In  1865  the Municipalities of Colombo and Kandy were esta¬

blished.

  In 1868 the general scheme of Public Education now in force was

adopted by the Legislature.

  In  1870  legislative measures enabling the tenants of  Temple

Lands to commute their services were adopted, and in the same

year the  Ceylon Medical School was established.

  In 1871 the  powers of Village Councils were  largely  extended,

and Village Tribunals instituted.

  In 1875 the  first stone of the Colombo Breakwater  was laid by

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

  In  1881  an  Ordinance, which however did not come fully into

effect until 1886, was passed, withdrawing pecuniary aid, saving in

the case of vested life-interests, from all Ecclesiastical Bodies.

  In  1883 a Code of  Criminal Law and Procedure  was passed,

which came into operation at the beginning of 1885.

  In 1885 Currency Notes were first issued by the Government.

  In 1886 the  Colombo Breakwater was completed.

  The Population of  Ceylon,  which  in 1837  was estimated at

1,243,066, and on the first  census taken  in 1871 was  found to be

2,405,287, now amounts to about 3,000,000.

  The Revenue, which in 1837 was £371,993, amounted in 1867 to

 £969,936, and in 1886 to Rs. 12,682,549.

  The number of miles of Main Roads open in 1837 was about

 450 ; in  1887 it was 3343.

  The number of Estates in the hands of European Settlers in 1837

probably did  not  exceed 50;  in  1887 it  was  over  1500.   The

 development of Agricultural Industry which these  figures denote

is, in itself, the most remarkable feature in the History of Ceylon

 during Her Majesty's reign.  It is a development which has changed

 the  physical appearance of the country, and profoundly modified

 its social condition, and which is due to the energy and perseverance

 of men who have shown that they can bear adversity with fortitude

 as they sustained prosperity with credit.