Page 63 - Vimarsha Volume 2

establishments of the kingdom of Kandy respectively. He describes Kandyan people
as follows, “ They are proud of being free from s foreign yoke and salves only to a

master of their own race.. they look upon the Cinghalese in our service as a mean,
despicable race, who barter their natural rights for peace and protection” (Percival,
1975:241) Moreover, he identifies that there was a rigid caste system in Kandy in the

eleventh chapter and he explained that there were four major levels of caste hierarchy.
As per Percival’s explanation, the first and foremost caste was nobles. They

represented the most prestigious group of society. The artists such as painters, smiths,
carpenters and goldsmiths represented the second level while barbers, potters,
washers and weavers represented the third level of the caste hierarchy. According to

Percival, peasantry and labourers of all descriptions belonged to the fourth level of
caste hierarchy.

Percival explains that they cultivate the lands for themselves or are hired out to work

for others. In chapter twelve Percival tried to provide an understanding of the
government of Kandy under the king’s administration. He explained that the Kandian

government is an absolute despotism and any resistance to the will of the king would
be considered as a crime. He further explains that the political power is centralized
towards the king and he obtains the supreme power of the kingdom.

Percival considered the indigenous community in Sri Lanka as well. He describes the
Veddas community (indigenous community) in the thirteenth chapter. He explains
that Veddas as an aboriginal and uncivilized group of inhabitants on the island.

“These Bedahs who venture to converse with the other natives are represented to be
courteous, and in address far beyond their state of civilization. Their religion is little

known. They have their inferior deities corresponding to the demons of the Cinglese
and observe certain festivals. On these occasions, victuals of various sorts are placed
at the root of a tree, and the ceremonies of the festival consist in dancing around them”

(Percival, 1975:276-277). Percival named the seventeenth chapter as “general
observations-present state of the island, improvements, revenue, the civil and military
establishment and advantages”. In this chapter, he focused on describing the British

development activities in Ceylon. He highly criticized the Dutch reforms of Ceylon

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