few towns in each talook; these men chiefly Concanese are
again indebted to their more opulent brethren established
on the coast for supplies which are bartered for the
products of the soil. These again are confined to three or
four principal articles so that they do not afford room for
much individual foreign enterprise, and consequently the
provision of them remains with the people, who, have ever
retained it, and thus strangers are in a great degree
excluded from the country.- From these causes I certainly consider the general want
of Men of Science originates, and also that men, where
their occupation is so entirely taken up with one pursuit
would not be induced to quit it on any account, much less
for the occupation of a travelling vaccinator. - Subsequently to my arrival in Canara, I had endeavored
to persuade some of the original farmers, the Bunts, to send
their nephews (for they are the heirs, not the sons) to Mangalore
for education—without success. A Christian school has been
established in which Latin and Portuguese alone are taught. - Should the Board after this explanation still consider the
preparation of the Form transmitted with their letter, desirable,
and according to the views of the government, I shall endeavor to
obtain the particulars. It will be, I beg to repeat, a very fallacious
statement. Amongst the numerous servants of this extensive
Collectorate there is but one, who writes Persian; the literary
knowledge of all others is confined to Hindwy and Canarese.
Even Sanscrit is very partially known, and the Ballabund is
confined to a very few of the class of Bramins who read the
Shastras. Amongst this latter class I have found many, who
could not read some of the ancient inscriptions, which they
assert are in a different character from the Hala Canarese, and
Ballabund they were taught.
Mangalore,
Principal Collector’s Cutcherry,
27th August, 1822.
(Order thereon)—35-36 T. Harris,
Ordered to lie on the table: Principal Collector.