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

o >> ogether With An Account Of The Detaining In Captivity The Author >> An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies




[The highest points of Devotion.] They reckon the chief poynts of
goodness to consist in giving to the Priests, in making Pudgiahs,
Sacrifices to their Gods, in forbearing shedding the blood of any
creature: which to do they call Pau boi, a great Sin: and in abstaining
from eating any flesh at all, because they would not have any hand,
or any thing to do in killing any living thing. They reckon Herbs
and Plants more innocent food. It is religion also to sweep under
the Bogaha or God-Tree, and keep it clean. It is accounted religion
to be just and sober and chast and true and to be endowed with other
vertues, as we do account it.

[Their Charity.] They give to the poor out of a Principle of
Charity, which they extend to forraigners, as well as to their own
Country-men. But of every measure of rice they boyl in their houses
for their families they will take out an handful, as much as they
can gripe, and put into a bag, and keep it by it self, which they
call Mitta-haul. And this they give and distribute to such poor as
they please, or as come to their doors.

[The priviledg of the Moorish beggars.] Nor are they charitable only to
the poor of their own Nation, but as I said to others: and particularly
to the Moorish beggars, who are Mahometans by religion. These have a
Temple in Cande. A certain former king gave this Temple this Priviledg,
that every Free-holder should contribute a Ponnam to it. And these
Moors go to every house in the land to receive it. And if the house
be shut, they have power to break it open, and to take out of goods
to the value of it. They come very confidently when they beg, and
they say they come to fulfill the peoples charity. And the people do
liberrally releive them for charity sake.

There is only one County in the Land, viz. Dolusbaug, that pays not the
aforesaid duty to the Moors Temple. And the reason is, that when they
came first thither to demand it, the Inhabitants beat them away. For
which act they are free from the payment of that Ponnam and have also
another priviledg granted them for the same, That they pay no Marral,
or Harriots, to the King as other Countreys do.

These Moors Pilgrims have many pieces of Land given them by well
disposed persons out of charity, where they build houses and live. And
this land becomes theirs from generation to generation for ever.

[They respect Christians, and why.] They lay Flowers, out of religion,
before their Images every morning and evening, for which Images
they build little Chappels in their yards as we said before. They
carry beads in their hands on strings, and say so many prayers
as they go. Which custom in all probability they borrowed of the
Portugueze. They love a man that makes conscience of his ways. Which
makes them respect Christians more than any others, because they
think they are just and will not lye. And thus we have finished our
discourse of their Religion.






CHAP. VI.

Concerning their Houses, Diet, Housewifry, Salutation, Apparel.


Having already treated of their Religion, we now come to their secular
concerns. And first we will lead you into their houses, and shew you
how they live.

[Their houses.] Their Houses are small, low, thatched Cottages, built
with sticks, daubed with clay, the walls made very smooth. For they are
not permitted to build their houses above one story high, neither may
they cover with tiles, nor whiten their walls with lime, but there is
a Clay which is as white, and that they use sometimes. They employ no
Carpenters, or house-builders, unless some few noble-men, but each one
buildeth his own dwelling. In building whereof there is not so much as
a nail used; but instead of them every thing which might be nailed,
is tyed with rattans and other strings, which grow in the woods in
abundance; whence the builder hath his Timber for cutting. The Country
being warm, many of them will not take pains to clay their walls,
but make them of boughs and leaves of Trees. The poorest sort have
not above one room in their houses, few above two, unless they be
great men. Neither doth the King allow them to build better.

[No chimneys.] They are not nice nor curious in their houses. They
have no Chimneys in them, but make their fires in one corner, so that
the roof is all blacked with the smoak.

[The houses of the better sort.] The great people have handsom and
commodious houses. They have commonly two buildings one opposit to
the other, joined together on each side with a wall, which makes a
square Court-yard in the middle. Round about against the walls of
their houses are banks of clay to sit on; which they often daub over
with soft Cow-dung, to keep them smooth and clean. Their Slaves and
Servants dwell round about without in other houses with their wives
and children.

[Their Furniture.] Their Furniture is but small. A few earthen pots
which hang up in slings made of Canes in the middle of their houses,
having no shelves; one or two brass Basons to eat in, a stool or
two without backs. For none but the King may sit upon a stool with a
back. There are also some baskets to put corn in, some mats to spread
upon the ground to sleep on: which is the bedding both for themselves
and friends when they come to their houses. Also some Ebeny pestels
about four foot long to beat rice out of the husk, and a wooden Morter
to beat it in afterwards to make it white, a Hirimony or Grater to
grate their Coker-nuts with, a flat stone upon which they grind their
Pepper and Turmeric, &c. With another stone which they hold in their
hands at the same time. They have also in their houses Axes, Bills,
Houghs, Atches Chissels, and other Tools for their use. Tables they
have none, but sit and eat on the ground.

[How they eat.] And now we are mentioning eating, let us take a
view of this people at their meals. Their Dyet and ordinary fare is
but very mean, as to our account. If they have but Rice and Salt in
their house, they reckon they want for nothing. For with a few green
Leaves and the juice of a Lemmon with Pepper and Salt, they will
make a hearty meal. Beef here may not be eaten; it is abominable:
Flesh and Fish is somewhat scarce. And that little of it they have,
they had rather sell to get mony to keep, then eat it themselves:
neither is there any but outlandish men, that will buy any of them. It
is they indeed do eat the fat and best of the Land. Nor is it counted
any shame or disgrace, to be a niggard and sparing in dyet; but rather
a credit even to the greatest of them, that they can fare hard and
suffer hunger, which they say, Soldiers ought to be able to endure.

[How the great men eat.] The great ones have always five or fix sorts
of food at one meal, and of them not above one or two at most of
Flesh or Fish, end of them more pottage than meat, after the Portugal
fashion. The rest is only what groweth out of the ground. The main
substance with which they fill their bellies is Rice, the other things
are but to give it a relish.

[Discouraged from nourishing Cattel.] If these people were not
discouraged from rearing and nourishing of Cattle and Poultry,
provisions might be far more plentiful. For here are many Jackalls,
which catch their Hens and some Tigres, that destroy their Cattle:
but the greatest of all is the King; whose endeavour is to keep them
poor and in want. For from them that have Hens his Officers take
them for the Kings use giving little or nothing for them; the like
they do by Hogs. Goats none are suffered to keep, besides the King,
except strangers.

[Cleanly in dressing their meet.] In dressing of their victuals they
are not to be discommended: for generally they are cleanly and very
handy about the fame. And after one is used to that kind of fare,
as they dress it, it is very savoury and good. They sit upon a mat
on the ground, and eat. But he, whom they do honour and respect,
sits on a stool and his victuals on another before him.

[Their drink and manner of eating.] Their common drink is only water:
and if they drink Rack, it is before they eat, that it may have the
more operation upon their bodies. When they drink they touch not the
Pot with their mouths, but hold it at a distance, and pour it in. They
eat their Rice out of China dishes, or Brass Basons, and they that
have not them, on leaves. The Carrees, or other sorts of Food which
they eat with their Rice, is kept in the Pans it is dressed in,
and their wives serve them with it, when they call for it. For it
is their duties to wait and serve their Husbands while they eat,
and when they have done, then to take and eat that which they have
left upon their Trenchers. During their eating they neither use nor
delight to talk to one another.

[Their manner of washing before and after meals.] They always wash
their hands and mouths both before and after they have eaten; but
for others to pour the water on their hands is looked upon as an
affront. For so they do to them, whom they account not worthy to
handle their Water pot. But when they wash, with one hand they pour
it themselves upon the other. They are very cleanly both in their
bodies and heads, which they do very often wash, and also when they
have been at stool they make use of water.

[None must speak while the Rice is put into the Pot.] But to give you
a little of their Cookery. If People be in the room talking together,
the woman being ready to put the Rice into the Pot, bids them all be
silent till she has put it in, and then they may procede with their
discourse. For if they should talk while the Rice is putting in,
it would not swell.

[Sawce made of Lemmon juyce.] At the time of the year that there is
most plenty of Lemmons, they take them and squeez the juyce into an
earthen Pot, and set over the fire, and boil it so long, till it
becomes thick and black like Tar. This they set by for their use,
and it will keep as long as they please. A very small quantity of it
will suffice for sawce. They call it Annego.

[Their sweet meats.] They have several sorts of sweet-meats. One
they call Caown. It is like to a Fritter made of Rice-flower, and
Jaggory. They make them up in little lumps, and lay them upon a Leaf,
and then press them with their thumbs, and put them into a Frying-Pan,
and fry them in Coker-nut Oyl or Butter. When the Dutch came first to
Columba, the King ordered these Caown to be made and sent to them as
a royal Treat. And they say, the Dutch did so admire them, that they
asked if they grew not upon Trees, supposing it past the Art of man
to make such dainties.

Oggulas another sort of sweet-meats, made of parched Rice, Jaggory,
Pepper, Cardamum, and a little Cinnamons. They rowl them up in Balls,
which will grow hard. These they tie up in bags and carry them with
them when they travail to eat in afternoons when they are hungry.

Alloways made much after the former manner, only they are flat in the
fashion of a Lozenge; which are good for faintings and thirsty souls
to relish their water, and to eat of in afternoons when they are at
home. We carried some of these along with us in our travayl.

[A kind of Puddings.] Tacpetties, made of Rice-flower, and the meat of
the Coker-nut and Jaggory. They are made up into small lumps, and so
put in a Leaf, and laid on a cloth over a Pot of boyling water. The
stream of which heats that which is laid upon it: and so they are
sodden like a Pudding. They tast like white bread, Almonds and Sugar.

Pitu. Which is made thus. They take flower of Coracan, and sprinkle
a little water into it, being both put into a large Pot for the
purpose. Then they stir and rowl it in the Pot with their hands: by
which means it crumbles into corns like Gun-Powder. Then they have a
Pot of boyling water with a cloth tyed over it; and upon this cloth
they lay so much of this corn flower as they can conveniently cover
with another Pot. And so the steam coming through the cloth boils it,
that it will be much like unto a Pudding. And this they use to eat
as they do Rice.

[The Womens Houswifry.] The womens Housewifry is to beat the Rice out
of the husk; which they do with an Ebeny Pestle before mentioned. They
lay the Rice on the ground, and then beat it, one blow with one hand,
and then tossing the Pestle into the other, to strike with that. And
at the same time they keep stroke with their feet (as if they were
dancing) to keep up the Corn together in one heap. This being done,
they beat it again in a wooden Morter to whiten it, as was said
before. This work tho it be very hard, belongeth only to the women:
as also to fetch both wood and water. The wood they bring upon their
heads, the water in an earthen Pot, placing it upon their hip. To the
women also belongs a small bill to cut Herbs, Pumkins &c. Which she
is to dress. Which bill she lays upon the ground, the edg upwards,
and sets her self upon a Staff or handle to hold it fast, and what
she meaneth to cut, she lays it upon the edge, and shoveth it on it.

[How they entertain strangers.] When one comes to anothers house,
being set down the Entertainment is, green Leaves, they call Bullat,
which they eat raw with Lime and Betel-nut, and Tobacco. And being set
a while, the man of the house will ask the Stranger what he comes tor,
which if he does not suddenly, the Stranger will take exceptions at
it, as thinking he is not welcom to him. Neither do they ever go one
to visit the other, unless it be for their own ends, either to beg
or borrow.

[And Kindred.] And if Kindred, that are very nearly related come
together, they have no loving or private conference one with the other,
but fit like strangers very solid and grave. And if they stay above
one night, which is the common custom, then they do help and assist
the man of the house in any work or service he hath to do.

[When they visit.] When any friends go to anothers house to visit,
they never go empty handed, but carry provisions and sweat meats with
them to their friend. And then he makes them a Feast according to
his ability, but they never eat of those things, which themselves
brought. But there is but little feasting among them unless at
a Wedding.

We have been long enough in the house, let us walk abroad, and show
you how the People demean themselves without doors.

[Their manner of Salutations.] When they meet one another, their
manner of Salutation or obeisance is, to hold forth their two hands,
the Palms upwards, and bow their Bodies: but the superior to the
inferior holds forth but one hand, and if the other be much beneath,
him he only nods his head. The women salute by holding up both
their hands edgways to their Foreheads. The general complement one
to another at first meeting is to say Ay; it signifies how do you:
and the other answers, Hundoi, that is, well.

[The Nobles in their best Apparel.] The Habit of the men when they
appear abroad is after this sort. The Nobles wear Doublets of white
or blew Callico, and about their middle a cloth, a white one next
their skin, and a blew one or of some other colour or painted, over
the white: a blew or shash girt about their loyns, and a Knife with a
carved handle wrought or inlaid with Silver sticking in their bosom;
and a compleat short Hanger carved and inlaid with Brass and Silver
by their sides, the Scabbard most part covered with Silver; bravely
ingraven; a painted Cane and sometimes a Tuck in it in their hands,
and a boy always bare-headed with long hair hanging down his back
waiting upon him, ever holding a small bag in his hand, which is
instead of a Pocket, wherein is Betel-leaves and nuts. Which they
constantly keep chewing in their mouths, with Lime kept in a Silver
Box rarely engraven, which commonly they hold in their hands, in
shape like a Silver Watch.

[The fashion of their hair.] The great ones also generally, and
spruce young men, do wear their hair long hanging down behind: but
when they do any work or travail hard, it annoying them, they tie it
up behind. Heretofore generally they bored holes in their ears and
hung weights in them to make them grow long, like the Malabars, but
this King not boring his, that fashion is almost left off. The men
for ornament do wear Brass, Copper, Silver Rings on their Fingers,
and some of the greatest Gold. But none may wear any Silk.

But the women in their Apparel do far surpass the men, neither are they
so curious in clothing themselves as in making their wives fine. The
mens Pride consists in their Attendance, having men bearing Arms
before and behind them.

[The Women drest in their bravery.] In their houses the women regard
not much what dress they go in, but so put on their cloths as is most
convenient for them to do their work. But when they go abroad, and
make themselves fine, They wear a short Frock with sleeves to cover
their bodies of fine white Callico wrought with blew and red Thread
in flowers and branches: on their Arms Silver Bracelets, and their
fingers and toes full of Silver Rings, about their necks, Necklaces of
Beads or Silver, curiously wrought and engraven, guilded with Gold,
hanging down so low as their brests. In their ears hang ornaments
made of Silver set with Stones, neatly engraven and guilded. Their
ears they bore when they are young, and rowl Coker-nut leaves and put
into the holes to stretch them out, by which means they grow so wide
that they stand like round Circles on each side of their faces, which
they account a great ornament, but in my Judgment a great deformity,
they being well featured women.

[How they dress their heads.] Their other ornaments and Apparel
show very comely on them Their Hair they oyl, with Coker-nut oyl
to make it smooth, and comb it all behind. Their hair grows not
longer than their wasts, but because it is a great ornament to have
a great bunch of hair, they have a lock of other hair fastened in
a Plate of engraved Silver and guilded, to tie up with their own,
in a knot hanging down half their Backs. Their hands are bare, but
they carry a scarf of striped or branched Silk or such as they can
get, casting it carelesly on their head and shoulders. About their
Wasts they have one or two Silver girdles made with Wire and Silver
Plate handsomly engraven, hanging down on each side, one crossing the
other behind. And as they walk they chew Betel. But notwithstanding
all their bravery neither man nor woman wears shoos or stockings,
that being a Royal dress, and only for the King himself.

[They commonly borrow their fine cloths.] It is in general a common
custom with all sorts of People, to borrow Apparel or Jewels to wear
when they go abroad, which being so customary is no shame nor disgrace
to them, neither do they go about to conceal it. For among their
friends or strangers where they go, they will be talking saying, This
I borrowed of such an one, and this of another body. Their Poverty
is so great, that their ability will not reach to buy such Apparel
as they do desire to wear; which nevertheless is but very mean and
ordinary at the best.






CHAP. VII.

Of their Lodging, Bedding, Whoredom, Marriages, and Children.


Having been thus entertained with the fine Ladies abroad, it is time
now to return home to our Lodging. And the night coming on, we will
lead you to their Bed-Chambers, and shew you how they sleep. About
which they are not very curious. If their house be but one room (as
it often is) then the men sleep together at one end and the women at
the other.

[Their Bed, and how they sleep a nights.] They have Bedsteads laced
with Canes or Rattans, but no Testars to them, nor Curtains; that the
King allows not of; neither have they nor care they for more than
one Bedstead, which is only for the Master of the house to sit or
sleep on. To this Bedstead belongs two mats and a straw Pillow. The
Woman with the Children always lyes on the ground on mats by the
fire-side. For a Pillow she lays a block or such like thing under
her mat, but the Children have no Pillows at all. And for covering
and other bedding they use the cloth they wear by day. But always at
their feet they will have a fire burning all night. Which makes more
work for the Women; who must fetch it all upon her head. For it is
accounted a disgrace for the man to meddle or make with those affairs,
that properly do belong unto the Woman.

[They rise in the night.] The younger sort of Children, such as go
naked by day, creep in under a corner of their mothers cloths. And
if they feel themselves cold in the night, they rise and blow the
fire with their mouths, having no Bellows in that Countrey, and so
sit and warm themselves thereby.

They are so little given to sleep, that they do rise many times in
the night to eat Beatel and to take Tobacco. Which done they lay them
down, and sing songs until they fall a sleep again.

[Children taught to sing at going to Bed.] At their first going to
bed, it is very seldom that they do pray to God, neither do they
ever teach their Children so to do. But sometimes will say Auh Dio,
which is God help or keep me. But they do instead of that, teach and
bid their Children to sing songs when they go to bed.

[Young People lie at one anotheir houses.] Where their houses consist
but of one room, the Children that are of any years always go and
sleep in other houses among their neighbours. Which please them better
than their own. For so they come to meet with bedfellows, nor doth it
displease the Parents, if young men of as good quality as themselves
become acquainted with their daughters, but rather like well of it;
knowing that their daughters by this means can command the young men
to help and assist them in any work or business that they may have
occasion to use them in. And they look upon it so far distant from a
disgrace, that they will among their consorts brag of it, that they
have the young men thus at their command.

[Nothing so common as Whoredom.] So that youth are bred up to
Whoredom. Indeed here are no Publick Whores allowed by Authority. In
the City some that have followed that Trade, have oftentimes by the
King's order been severely punished by Whipping, and having their Ears
and Hair cut off. But in private few or none can exempt themselves. And
for the matter of being with Child, which many of them do not desire,
they very exquisitely can prevent the same.

[They are guilty of the thing, but love not the name.] Indeed the
Publick Trade would be bad, and hardly maintain them that exercised it,
the private one being so great. And tho I think they be all Whores,
yet they abhor the Name of Vesou, which is Whore. Neither do they in
their anger reproach one another with it, unless they should lay with
a Man of an inferior quality to themselves, And the Woman reckons her
self as much obliged to the Man for his Company, as he does to her
for hers. In these affairs the Women are very expert (it being their
continual practice) to keep their design from the Husbands knowledge:
tho by his own Experience he cannot be ignorant of Womens devices. And
unless he catch them in the act he doth not much trouble himself to
prove himself a Cuckold; Cuckolds being so common, that it is not
here regarded.

[The Man may kill whom he finds in Bed with his Wife.] It is a Law
here, that if a Man catch another in Bed with his Wife, he may, be it
whosoever, kill him and her, if he please. It hath so happened that
the Man hath come to the Door, when another hath been within with
his Wife, there being no way to escape, the Woman has took a pan of
hot ashes, and as she opened the Door, her Husband being entring,
cast them in his Eyes, and so she and her Bedfellow made an escape.

[The Womens craft to compass and conceal their Debauchery.] To fetch
wood out of the Woods to burn, and to fetch home the Cattle is the
Woman's work. If they cannot have their opportunities at home, now
they appoint their meetings, while the Husband stays at home holding
the Child. In the Evenings it is common for them with whom the Women
be acquainted, to come and wait behind the House when it is dark to
attend their coming forth to them. To which end they give them notice
either by breaking of a stick, or by putting some Betel over the Wall
to fall in such places as they have appointed, where she will look
to find it. And when she has such notice, she cannot want an excuse
to go forth to meet him.

They bear such love to their Bedfellows, that I have known this done,
The Husband hath beset the House, and the Womans Friend in it, when
she hath holpen him to make a hole thro the Thatch to get out at,
which he hath done and made his Escape, and she remain behind to suffer
all the blame her self. When other opportunities are wanting to enjoy
the Company of their Paramours whole Nights together, they usually
take occasion to be discontented and fall out with their Husbands,
and so go home to their Friends houses, to get longer enjoyments. Who
to shew their Friendship will not hinder but further them in what
they delight in.

[They do treat their Friends with the use of their Wives and
Daughters.] In some Cases the Men will permit their Wives and Daughters
to lye with other Men. And that is, when intimate Friends or great
Men chance to Lodge at their houses, they commonly will send their
Wives or Daughters to bear them company in their Chamber. Neither do
they reckon their Wives to be Whores for lying with them that are as
good or better than themselves.

Copyright (c) 2007. knowncrafts.net. All rights reserved.