Book: An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies

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[Beggars.] There is one sort of People more, and they are the Beggars:
who for their Transgression, as hereafter shall be shewn, have by
former Kings been made so low and base, that they can be no lower
or baser. And they must and do give such titles and respects to all
other People, as are due from other People to Kings and Princes.

[The Reason they became so base and mean a People.] The Predecessors
of these People, from whom they sprang, were Dodda Vaddahs, which
signifies Hunters: to whom it did belong to catch and bring Venison
for the King's Table. But instead of Venison they brought Man's flesh,
unknown; which the King liking so well, commanded to bring him more of
the same sort of Venison. The king's Barbar chanced to know what flesh
it was, and discovered it to him. At which the King was so inraged,
that he accounted death too good for them; and to punish only those
Persons that had so offended, not a sufficient recompence for so
great an Affront and Injury as he had sustained by them. Forthwith
therefore he established a Decree, that all both great and small,
that were of that Rank or Tribe, should be expelled from dwelling
among the Inhabitants of the Land, and not be admitted to use or
enjoy the benefit of any means, or ways, or callings whatsoever,
to provide themselves sustinence; but that they should beg from
Generation to Generation, from Door to Door, thro the Kingdom; and to
be looked upon and esteemed by all People to be so base and odious,
as not possibly to be more.

And they are to this day so detestable to the People, that they are
not permitted to fetch water out of their Wells; but do take their
water out of Holes or Rivers. Neither will any touch them, lest they
should be defiled.

And thus they go a begging in whole Troops, both Men, Women,
and Children, carrying both Pots and Pans, Hens and Chickens, and
whatsoever they have, in Baskets hanging on a Pole, at each end one,
upon their Shoulders. The Women never carry any thing, but when they
come to any House to beg, they Dance and shew Tricks, while the Men
beat Drums. They will turn Brass Basons on one of their fingers,
twirling it round very swift, and wonderfully strange. And they will
toss up Balls into the Air one after another to the number of Nine,
and catch them as they fall, and as fast as they do catch them, still
they toss them up again; so that there are always Seven up in the
Air. Also they will take Beads of several Colours, and of one size,
and put them in their mouths, and then take them one by one out of
their mouths again each Colour by themselves. And with this Behaviour,
and the high and honourable Titles which they give, as to Men, Your
Honour, and Your Majesty; and to Women, Queens, Countesses; and to
white Men, White of the Royal Blood, &c. They do beg for their living;
and that with so much importunity, as if they had a Patent for it from
the King, and will not be denied; pretending that it was so ordered and
decreed, that by this very means they should be maintained, and unless
they mean to perish with hunger they cannot accept of a denyal. The
People on the other hand cannot without horrible shame, lift up their
hand against them to strike or thrust them away; so rather than to
be troubled with their importunity, they will relieve them.

[They live well.] And thus they live, building small Hovels in remote
Places, Highways, under Trees. And all the Land being, as it were of
Necessity, Contributers towards their maintenance, these Beggars live
without labour, as well or better, than the other sorts of People;
being free from all sorts of Service and Duties, which all other are
compelled to perform for the King. [Their Contest with the Weavers
about dead Cows.] Of them it is only required to make Ropes of such
Cow-hides, as die of themselves, to catch and tie Elephants with:
By which they have another Privilege, to claim the flesh there of
for themselves, from the Weavers. Who when they meet with any dead
Cows, use to cut them up and eat them. But if any of these Roudeahs,
Beggars, see them, they will run to them and drive them away, offering
to beat them with the Poles, whereon they carry their Baskets, saying
to them, How can we perform the King's Service to make Ropes of the
Hide, if the Weavers hack and spoil it? telling them also, That it
is beneath such honourable People as they, to eat such Unclean and
Polluted flesh. By these words, and the fear the Weavers are in to be
touched by that base People, than which nothing could be more infamous,
they are glad to get them away as fast as they can.

[Incest common among them.] These Men being so low that nothing they
can do, can make them lower, it is not unusual with them to lay with
their Daughters, or for the Son to lay with his Mother, as if there
were no Consanguinity among them.

[A Punishment to deliver Noble Women to these Beggars.] Many times
when the King cuts off Great and Noble Men, against whom he is
highly incensed, he will deliver their Daughters and Wives unto
this sort of People, reckoning it, as they also account it, to be
far worse Punishment than any kind of Death. This kind of Punishment
being accounted such horrible Cruelty, the King doth usually of his
Clemency shew them some kind of Mercy, and pittying their Distress,
Commands to carry them to a River side, and there to deliver them
into the hands of those, who are far worse than the Executioners of
Death: from whom, if these Ladies please to free themselves, they
are permitted to leap into the River and be drowned; the which some
sometimes will choose to do, rather than to consort with them.

[Some of these Beggars keep Cattle and shoot Deer.] There are some
of this sort of People which dwell in remote Parts, distant from any
Towns, and keep Cattle, and sell them to the Chingulayes, also shoot
Deer and sell them where they fall in the Woods; for if they should
but touch them, none would buy them.

[Refuse Meat dressed in a Barbar's house.] The Barbar's Information
having been the occasion of all this misery upon this People, they in
revenge there of abhor to eat what is dressed in the Barbar's House
even to this day.






CHAP. III.

Of their Religion, Gods, Temples, Priests.


To take a more particular view of the state of this Countrey, we shall
first give some account of their Religion, as it justly requires the
first place, and then of their other secular concerns.

Under their Religion will come to be considered, Their Gods, their
Temples, their Priests, their Festivals, Sacrifices, and Worship,
and their Doctrines and Opinions; and whatsoever other matters occur,
that may concern this Subject.

[Their Religion, their gods.] The Religion of the Countrey is
Idolatry. There are many both Gods and Devils, which they worship,
known by particular Names, which they call them by. They do acknowledge
one to be the Supreme, whom they call Ossa polla maupt Dio, which
signifieth the Creator of Heaven and Earth; and it is he also, who
still ruleth and governeth the same. This great Supreme God, they hold,
sends forth other Deities to see his Will and Pleasure executed in
the World; and these are the petty and inferior gods. These they say
are the Souls of good men, who formerly lived upon the Earth. There
are Devils also, who are the Inflicters of Sickness and Misery upon
them. And these they hold to be the Souls of evil men.

[They worship the God that saves Souls.] There is another great God,
whom they call Buddou, unto whom the Salvation of Souls belongs. Him
they believe once to have come upon the Earth. And when he was
here, that he did usually fit under a large shady Tree, called
Bogahah. Which Trees ever since are accounted Holy, and under which
with great Solemnities they do to this day celebrate the Ceremonies
of his Worship. He departed from the Earth from the top of the highest
Mountain on the Island, called Pico Adam: where there is an Impression
like a foot, which, they say, is his, as hath been mentioned before.

[The Sun and Moon they repute Deities.] The Sun and Moon they seem
to have an Opinion to be gods from the Names they sometimes call
them by. The Sun in their Language is Irri, and the Moon Handa. To
which they will sometimes add the Title Haumi, which is a name they
give to Persons of the greatest Honour; and Dio, that signifies God:
saying Irrihaumi, Irridio: Handahaumi, handa Dio. But to the Stars
they give not these Titles.

[Some of their Temples of exquisite Work.] The Pagoda's or Temples
of their Gods are so many that I cannot number them. Many of them
are of Rare and Exquisite work, built of Hewn Stone, engraven with
Images and Figures; but by whom and when I could not attain to know,
the Inhabitants themselves being ignorant therein. But sure I am they
were built by far more Ingenious Artificers, than the Chingulayes
that now are on the Land. For the Portugueze in their Invasions have
defaced some of them, which there is none found that hath Skill enough
to repair to this day.

[The form of their Temples.] The fashion of these Pagoda's are
different; some, to wit those that were anciently built, are of
better Workmanship, as was said before; but those lately erected are
far Inferior; made only with Clay and Sticks, and no Windows. Some,
viz. Those belonging to the Buddou, are in the form of a Pigeon-House,
foursquare, one Story high, and some two; the Room above has its
Idols as well as that below. Some of them are Tiled, and some Thatched.

[The shape of their Idols.] In them are Idols and Images most monstrous
to behold, some of silver, some of brass and other metals: and also
painted sticks, and Targets, and most strange kind of Arms, as Bills,
Arrows, Spears and Swords. But these Arms are not in the Buddou's
Temples, he being for Peace: therefore there are in his Temples only
Images of men cross-legged with yellow coats on like the Gonni-Priests,
their hair frilled, and their hands before them like women. And
these they say are the spirits of holy men departed. Their Temples
are adorned with such things as the peoples ability and poverty can
afford; accounting it the highest point of Devotion, bountifully to
dedicate such things unto their Gods, which in their estimation are
most precious.

[They worship not the Idol, but whom it represents.] As for these
Images they say they say they do not own them to be Gods themselves
but only Figures, representing their Gods to their memories; and as
such, they give to them honour and worship.

[The revenues of the Temples; and the honours thereof.] Women having
their natural infirmities upon them may not, neither dare they presume
to come near the Temples or houses of their Gods. Nor the men, if
they come out of houses where such women are.

[They are dedicated to Gods.] Unto each of these Pagodas, there are
great Revenues of Land belonging: which have been allotted to them
by former Kings, according to the State of the Kingdom: but they have
much impaired the Revenues of the Crown, there being rather more Towns
belonging to the Church, than unto the King. These estates of the
Temples are to supply a daily charge they are at; which is to prepare
victuals or sacrifices to set before the Idols. They have Elephants
also as the King has, which serve them for State. Their Temples have
all sorts of Officers belonging to them, as the Palace hath.

Most of these Pagodas are dedicated to the name and honour of those,
whom they call Dio or Gods: to whom, they say, belong the Government
on earth, and of all things appertaining to this life.

[Private Chappels.] Besides these Publick Temples, many people do
build in their yards private Chappels, which are little houses, like
to Closets, sometimes so small, that they are not above two foot in
bigness, but built upon a Pillar three or four foot from the ground
wherein they do place certain Image of the Buddou, that they may have
him near them, and to testifie their love and service to him. Which
they do by lighting up candles and lamps in his house, and laying
flowers every morning before him. And at some times they boyl victuals
and lay it before him. And the more they perform such ceremonious
service to him here, the more shall be their ward hereafter.

All blessings and good success, they say, come from the hand of God,
but sickness and diseases proceed from the Devil; not that of himself
he hath such absolute power, but as servants have power, licence and
authority from their Masters, so they from God.

[The Priests.] But the Gods will require some to wait at their Altars;
and the Temples, men to officiate in them: their Priests therefore
fall under the next confederation. Of these there are three sorts
according to the three differences of Gods among them. And their
Temples are also called by three different names.

[The first order of them.] The first and highest order of Priests are
the Tirinanxes. Who are the Priests of the Buddou God. Their Temples
are styled Vehars. There is a religious house in the City of Digligy,
where they dwell and assemble and consult together about their affairs,
which being the meeting place of such holy men, they call it a Vihar;
also they admit none to come into their order but persons of the most
noble birth, and that have learning and be well bred; of such they
admit many. But they do not presently upon their admission arrive
unto the high degree of a Tirinanx. For of these there are but
three or four: and they are chose out of all the rest of the order
unto this degree; These Tirinanxes only live in the Vihar, and enjoy
great Revenues, and are as it were the Superiors of all the Priests,
and are made by the King.

Many of the Vehars are endowed and have Farms belonging to them. And
these Tirinanxes are the Landlords, unto whom the Tenants come at a
certain time and pay in their Rents. These Farmers live the easiest
of any people in the Land, for they have nothing to do but at those
set times to bring in their dues and so depart, and to keep in
repair certain little Vehars in the Countrey. So that the rest of
the Chingulais envy them and say of them, Though they live easy in
this world, they cannot escape unpunished in the life to come for
enjoying the Buddou's land and doing him so little service for it.

[The habit of these Priests.] All the rest of the order are called
Gonni. The habit is the same to the whole order, both Tirinanxes
and Gonni. It is a yellow coat gathered together about their wast,
and comes over their left shoulder, girt about with a belt of fine
pack-thread. Their heads are shaved, and they go bare-headed and
carry in their hands a round fan with a wooden handle, which is to
keep the sun off their hands.

[Their Priviledges.] They have great benefit and honour. They
enjoy their own lands without paying scot or lot or any Taxes to the
King. They are honoured in such a measure, that the people, where ever
they go, bow down to them as they do to their Gods, but themselves
bow to none. They have the honour of carrying the Tallipot with the
broad end over their heads foremost; which none but the King does:
Wheresoever they come, they have a mat and a white cloth laid over
upon a stool for them to sit upon; which is also an honour used only
to the King.

[What they are prohibited.] They are debarred from laying their hands
to any manner of work; and may not marry nor touch women, nor eat but
one meal a day, unless it be fruit and rice and water, that they may
eat morning and evening: nor must they drink wine. They will eat any
lawful flesh that is dressed for them, but they will have no hand in
the death of it; as to give order or consent to the killing of it.

They may lay down their order, if they please; which some do, that
they may marry. This is done by pulling off their coat, and flinging
it into a River, and washing themselves head and body, and then they
become like other lay-men.

[When any is religiously disposed, these Priests sent for in great
ceremony.] There is a benefit that accrueth to them, which is, when any
man is minded to provide for his soul, they bring one of these Priests
under a cloth held up by four men, unto his house, with drums and Pipes
and great solemnity which only can be done unto the King besides. Then
they give him great entertainment and bestows gifts on him according
as they are able: which, after he hath tarried a day or more, they
carry for him, and conduct him home with the like solemnities as he
came. But the night that he tarries with them he must sing Bonna, that
is matter concerning their Religion out of a Book made of the leaves
of Tallipot: and then he tells them the meaning of what he sings, it
being in an eloquent style which the Vulgar people do not understand.

[None ever used violence towards them before the present King.] Some of
these Priests, against whom the King took displeasure, were beheaded,
afterwards cast into the River. Which thing caused amazement in all
the people, how the King durst presume to do it towards such holy
and reverend persons.

And none heretofore by any former Kings have ever been so served:
being reputed and called Sons of Boddou. But the reason the King flew
them was because they conspired in the Rebellion. They threw aside
their Habits, and got their swords by their sides.

[The second order of their Priests.] The second order of Priests
are those called Koppuhs. Who are the Priests that belong to the
Temples of the other Gods. Their Temples are called Dewals. These
are not distinguished by any habit from the rest of the People, no,
nor when they are at their worship; only they wear clean cloths, and
wash themselves before they go to their service. These are taken out
from among the Hondrews. They enjoy a piece of Land that belongs to
the Dewal where they officiate, and that is all their benefit, unless
they steal somewhat that is dedicated to the Gods. They follow their
Husbandry and employments as other men do, but only when the times
of worship are, which usually is every morning and evening, oftner or
seldomer according as the Revenue will hold out, that belongs to that
Temple, whereof each is Priest. The service is, that when the boyled
rice and other victuals are brought to the Temple door by others,
he takes it and presents it before the Idol. Whence, after it hath
stood a while, he brings it out again, and then the drummers, pipers,
and other servants that belong to the Temple, eat it. These Gods have
never any flesh brought in sacrifice to them, but any thing else.

[The third order.] The third order of Priests are the Jaddeses, Priests
of the Spirits, which they call Dayautaus. Their Temples are called
Covels, which are inferior to the other Temples, and have no revenues
belonging to them. A man piously disposed, builds a small house at
his own charge, which is the Temple, and himself becomes Priest
thereof. Therein are Bills, and Swords, and Arrows, and Shields,
and Images, painted upon the walls like fierce men. This house is
seldom called Gods house, but most usually Jacco, the Devils. Upon
some extradinary festival to the Jacco, the Jaddese shaves off all
his beard.

[How they dedicate a red Cock to the Devil.] When they are sick,
they dedicate a red Cock to the Devil. Which they do after this
manner. They send for the Jaddese to their house, and give him a red
Cock chicken, which he takes up in his hand and holds an Arrow with
it, and dedicates it to the God, by telling him that if he restore the
party to his health, that Cock is given to him; and shall be dressed
and sacrificed to him in his Covel. They then let the Cock go among
the rest of the Poultry, and keep it afterwards, it may be, a year
or two: and then they carry it to the Temple, or the Priest comes
for it. For sometimes he will go round about, and fetch a great many
Cocks together, that have been dedicated, telling the owners that he
must make a sacrifice to the God; though it may be when he hath them,
he will go to some other place and convert them into mony for his
own use, as I my self can witness, We could buy three of them for
four pence half-peny.

When the people are minded to enquire any thing of their Gods, the
Priests take up some of the Arms and Instruments of the Gods, that are
in the Temples, upon his shoulder; and their he either fains himself
to be mad, or really is so: which the people call Pissowetitch; and
then the spirit of the Gods is in him, and whatsoever he pronounceth,
is looked upon as spoken by God himself, and the people will speak
to him, as if it were the very person of God.






CHAP. IV.

Concerning their Worship, and Festivals.


[The chief days of worship.] Wednesdays and Saturdays are the days,
when people, who have any business with the Gods, come and address
themselves; that is either to pray to their God for health, or
for their help in some weighty matters, as in War &c. or to swear
concerning any matter in controversy, which is done before the Idols.

[How they know what God or Devil have made them sick.] But one
of their great and frequent businesses with their Gods is for the
Recovery of health. And that God or Devil that hath made them sick,
in his power only it is to restore them. Therefore when they feel
themselves sick or sore, first, they use means to know which God
or Devil hath been the cause or author thereof. Which to find they
use these means. With any little stick they make a bow, and on the
firing thereof they hang a thing they have to cut Betel-nuts, somewhat
like a pair of Sizzars; then holding the stick or Bow by both ends,
they repeat the names of all both God and Devils: and when they come
to him who hath afflicted them, then the Iron on the bow-string will
swing. They say by that sign they know their ilness proceeds from the
power of that God last named; but I think this happens by the power
of the Hands that hold it. The God being thus found, to him chiefly
they offer their oblations and sacrifices.

[The Gods of their fortunes.] There are nine Deities, which they call
Gerehah, which are the Planets (reckoning in probably the Dragons
head and Tail.) From whom proceed their Fortunes. These they reckon
so powerful, that if they be ill affected towards any party, neither
God nor Devil can revoke it.

[What worship they give the Planets.] When they are disposed to
worship these Gerehah, they make Images of Clay according to the
number that stand disaffected, towards them, which by certain Magick
Tricks they know these Images, which are made by the Weavers, they
paint of divers colours, of horrible and monstrous shapes; some with
long tusks like a Boar, some with hornes like a Bull, all in a most
deformed manner, but something resembling the shape of a man. Before
them they prostrate Victuals, the sick party sitting all the while
before them. These ceremonies are always celebrated in the night
with Drums and Pipes and dancing until almost day, and then they
take these Images and cast them out into the high ways to be trampled
under foot: and the Victuals taken away and eaten by the attendants,
and despicable people that wait there on purpose.

[What worship they give Devils.] When they worship those whom they
call Devils, many of whom they hold to be the Spirits of some that died
heretofore, they make no Images for them, as they did for the Planets;
but only build a new house in their yard, like a Barn very slight,
covered only with leaves, and adorn it with Branches and Flowers. Into
this House they bring some of the Weapons or Instruments, which are
in the Pagods or Temples, and place them on Stools at one end of
the house, which is hanged with Cloth for that purpose, and before
them on other Stools they lay Victuals: and all that time of the
Sacrifice there is Drumming, Piping, Singing, and Dancing. [Who eat
the Sacrifices.] Which being ended, they take the Victuals away, and
give it to those which Drum and Pipe, with other Beggars and Vagabonds;
for only such do eat of their Sacrifices; not that they do account such
things hallowed, and so dare not presume to eat them, but contrariwise
they are now looked upon as polluted meat. And if they should attempt
to eat thereof, it would be a reproach to them and their Generations.

[Their Gods are local.] These Spirits or Gods are local. For those
which they worship in one County or part of the Land, are not known or
owned to have power over the People in other parts. But each Countrey
hath several Spirits or Devils, that are peculiar to those places,
and do domineer over them, and are known by several names they call
them by: under whose subjection the People do acknowledge themselves
to be: and, as I well perceive, do stand in a greater awe of them,
than they do of them, whom they call and own to be their Gods.

[The subjection of this People to the Devil.] And indeed it is sad
to consider, how this poor People are subjected to the Devil, and
they themselves acknowledge it their misery, saying their Countrey
is so full of Devils, and evil Spirits, that unless in this manner
they should adore them, they would be destroyed by them. Christians
they do acknowledge have a Prerogative above themselves, and not to
be under the Power of these infernal Spirits.

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