29

DISUSE OF THE DUTCH LANGUAGE IN CEYLON.

[BY R. G. ANTHONISZ.]

ANYONE with the slightest knowledge of the etymology
of names would be struck by the large number of Dutch
surnames which belong to Ceylon families. From this cir-
cumstance strangers who visit the Island and more especially
the Dutch, naturally expect to hear the language of Holland
still spoken in the Island. But it will be soon ascertained that
not more than six or eight individuals among a community
which counts some thousands could make any pre-
tence to a knowledge of the language -a knowledge
sometimes of the barest rudimentary character. At the same
time this discovery is made the travelled stranger would also
note, on the other hand, how of the racial characteristics
of the Dutch are still preserved by these people. Not only in
type or form of face and figure, but also in those peculiarities
of character, expression, and movement, often difficult to de-
scribe or define, these Ceylon Burghers, here referred to, bear
unmistakeable traces of their Dutch descent. How then a
people of whose racial origin there can be  no question should
be almost entirely ignorant of the language of their fore-
fathers is a problem that has long puzzled, not only strangers to
the Island, but also its long residents and inhabitants. This
problem would seem to be the more difficult to solve in
view of the fact that, while the Dutch language has thus

        

12/19/98