, and the proceedings for
its suppression, will be found in PRIDHAM'S _Ceylon_, vol. i. p. 223.]

_Compulsory Labour_.--Another institution, to the influence and
operation of which the country was indebted for the construction of the
works which diffused plenty throughout every region, was the system of
Raja-kariya, by which the king had a right to employ, for public
purposes, the compulsory labour of the inhabitants. To what extent this
was capable of exaction, or under what safeguards it was enforced in
early times, does not appear from the historical books. But on all
occasions when tanks were to be formed, or canals cut for irrigation,
the _Mahawanso_ alludes--almost in words of course--to the application
of Raja-kariya for their construction[1], the people being summoned to
the task by beat of drum.[2]

[Footnote 1: The inscription engraven on the rock at Mihintala, amongst
other regulations for enforcing the observance by the temple tenants of
the conditions on which their lands were held, declares that "if a fault
be committed by any of the cultivators; the adequate fine shall be
assessed according to usage; or in lieu thereof, the delinquent shall be
directed _to work at the lake_ in making an excavation not exceeding
sixteen cubits in circumference and one cubit deep."-- TURNOUR'S
_Epitome_, &c., Appendix, p. 87.]

[Footnote 2: _Mahawanso_, ch. xxv. p. 149.]

The only mention of the system which attracts particular attention, is
the honour awarded to the most pious of the kings, who, whilst
maintaining Raja-kariya as an institution, nevertheless stigmatised it
as "oppression" when applied to non-productive objects; and on the
occasion of erecting one of the most stupendous of the monuments
dedicated to the national faith, felt that the merit of the act would be
neutralised, were it to be accomplished by "unrequited" labour.[1]

[Footnote 1: Ibid., ch. xxvii. pp. 163, 165. King Tissa, A. D. 201, in
imitation of Dutugaimunu. caused the restorations of monuments at the
capital "_to be made with paid labour_."--Ibid., ch. xxxvi. p. 226. See
ante Vol. I. Pt. III. ch. v. p. 357.]

CHAP. II.

AGRICULTURE.--IRRIGATION.--CATTLE AND CROPS.

AGRICULTURE.--Prior to the arrival of the Bengalis, and even for some
centuries after the conquest of Wijayo, before the knowledge of
agriculture had extended throughout the island, the inhabitants appear
to have subsisted to a great extent by the chase.[1] Hunting th