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

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[The Mother for a small reward prostitutes her Daughter.] They do not
matter or regard whether their Wives at the first Marriage be Maids or
not. And for a small reward the Mother will bring her Daughter being
a Maiden unto those that do desire her. But it is so much abhorred
for Women of the high Cast or Descent to admit Men of the low Cast
to have any thing to do with them, that I think they never do it.

[Marriages.] But enough of this Ribaldry, let us turn away to more
honest Practices. To speak of their Marriages, which make the Bed
lawful. There are not many Ceremonies used in or about the same. [No
wooing.] Here is no wooing for a Wife. The Parents commonly make the
Match, and in their choice regard more the Quality and Descent than
the Beauty. If they are agreed, all is done. The Match being thus made,
the Man carrieth or sends to the Woman her Wedding Cloths; which is a
Cloth containing six or seven yards in length, and a Linnen Wast-coat
wrought with Blew and Red. If the Man be so poor that he cannot buy a
Cloth, it is the Custom to borrow one. In case the Man with his Friends
goes and carries it himself, that Night they both sleep together to
beget acquaintance one with the other. And then they appoint a day
when he is to come and fetch her home; which is the Marriage-Day.

[The Bridegroom goes to the Brides House.] The day being come, he
attended with his Friends goes to her house, which is always in the
Evening, and brings Provisions and Sweet-meats with him according
to his Ability, towards the Charges of the Wedding. Which is never
more than two Meals. Whereof Supper is the first. Then the Bride and
Bridegroom both eat together in one Dish, which is to intimate that
they are both of one rank and quality, and sometimes they tye their
Thumbs together, but not always: and that Night go to sleep together.

[How the Bridegroom carrieth home his Bride.] The next day having
dined he taketh his Bride and departeth home with her, putting her
before him, and he following her, with some of her Friends to Conduct
her. For it is the constant Custom and Fashion in this Land for the
Husband to follow his Wife. The reason whereof is a Tradition among
them, that a Man once going foremost, it happened that his Wife was
stoln away, and he not aware of it. Being come home the Bridegroom
makes a Feast as he is able.

[A Ceremony of Marriage.] Some few days after, her Friends usually come
to see her bringing a present of Provision with them. And sometimes
they use this Ceremony, the Man is to stand with one end of the Woman's
Cloth about his Loins, and she with the other, and then they pour
water on both their Heads, wetting all their Bodies: which being done,
they are firmly Married to live together, so long as they can agree.

The Elder sorts of People usually woe and conclude their Marriages as
they are in Bed together. For when they have lost their Maidenheads,
they fear not much what Man comes to sleep with them, provided he be
of as good quality as they, having nothing more to lose. And at the day
appointed the Man gives the Woman her Cloths, and so takes her home.

[Man and Wife may part at pleasure.] But their Marriages are but
of little force or validity. For if they disagree and mislike one
the other; they part without disgrace. Yet it stands firmer for the
Man than for the Woman; howbeit they do leave one the other at their
pleasure. They do give according to their Ability a Portion of Cattle,
Slaves and Money with their Daughters; but if they chance to mislike
one another and part asunder, this Portion must be returned again,
and then she is fit for another Man, being as they account never the
worse for wearing.

[Men and Women change till they can please themselves.] Both Women
and Men do commonly wed four or five times before they can settle
themselves to their contentation. And if they have Children when they
part, the Common Law is, the Males for the Man, and the Females for
the Woman. But many of the Women are free from this controversie,
being Childless.

[Women have two Husbands.] In this Countrey each Man, even the
greatest, hath but one Wife; but a Woman often has two Husbands. For it
is lawful and common with them for two Brothers to keep house together
with one Wife, and the Children do acknowledge and call both fathers.

[Women unclean] So long as the Women have their Infirmities or Flowers
upon them, they are accounted very unclean, insomuch that the very
house is polluted in that degree that none will approach near it. And
even she her self cares not to conceal it, but calls out to them that
come near, that they may avoid her house. But after she hath washed
her Head and Body all is purified again. [Privileges of Men above
Women.] It is lawful for no Woman, altho they be great Men's Wives,
to sit on a Stool in the presence of a Man. It is customary for Men
upon any frivolous account to charge one another in the King's Name
to do or not to do, according as they would have it. This the Women
upon Penalty of having their Tongues cut out, dare not presume to do.

As it is usual to punish Men for faults committed by Imprisonment and
Chains, or by making them stand with a weight on their Backs, until
they do pay such a Sum of Money as is demanded: which for ordinary
faults may be five or ten Shillings. So the Punishment which is
inflicted upon Women, is to make them stand with a Basket of Sand
upon their Heads, so long as they shall think fitting, who appoint
the Punishment. Punishment by stripes is never used either to Men or
Women, but only to those on whom the King Commands them to be laid.

[Privileges of Women.] Lands of Inheritance which belong to Women
are exempted from paying Harriots to the King. Women pay no Custom
for things they carry to the Sea-Ports. Neither is any Custom paid
for what is carried upon any Female Cattel, Cow or Buffalo.

[They often destroy new born Infants.] They have no Midwives, but
the neighbouring good Women come in and do that Office. As soon as
the Child is born, the Father or some Friend apply themselves to an
Astrologer to enquire, whether the Child be born in a prosperous
Planet, and a good hour or in an evil. If it be found to be in an
evil they presently destroy it, either by starving it, letting it
lye and die, or by drowning it, putting its head into a Vessel of
water, or by burying it alive, or else by giving it to some body of
the same degree with themselves; who often will take such Children,
and bring them up by hand with Rice and Milk; for they say, the Child
will be unhappy to the Parents, but to none else. We have asked them
why they will deal so with their poor Infants, that come out of their
Bowels. They will indeed have a kind of regret and trouble at it. But
they will say withal, Why should I bring up a Devil in my House? For
they believe, a Child born in an ill hour, will prove a plague and
vexation to his Parents by his disobedience and untowardliness.

[But seldom a First-born.] But it is very rare that a First-born
is served so. Him they love and make much of. But when they come to
have many, then usual it is, by the pretence of the Childs being born
under an unlucky Planet, to kill him. And this is reputed no fault,
and no Law of the Land takes cognizance of it.

[Their Names.] In their Infancy they have Names, whereby one may
be called and distinguished from the other. But when they come to
years it is an affront and shame to them either Men or Women, to be
called by those Names. Which they say is to be like unto Dogs. Then
they change their Names into Titles according to the Town wherein
they were born or do dwell. Also they have other Names, which may be
compared to Coats of Arms, properly and only belonging to that Family:
by which likewise they are called.

[They are ambitious of high Titles.] This People are very Ambitious
of their Titles having but little else that they can boast in; and of
Names and Titles of respect they have great plenty in their Language;
instances whereof shall be given afterwards.






CHAP. VIII.

Of their Employments and Recreations.


It is full time now, that we relate what course of life the People
take, and what means they use for a livelihood. This has been in part
already related.

[Their Trade.] As for Commerce and Merchandize with Foreign Nations,
there is little or nothing of that now exercised. Indeed in the times
when the Portugueze were on this Island, and Peace between them and
the King, he permitted his People to go and Trade with them. The
which he would never permit them to do with the Hollander, tho they
have much sought for it. They have a small Traffic among themselves,
occasioned from the Nature of the Island. For that which one part of
the Countrey affords, will not grow in the other. But in one part or
other of this Land they have enough to sustain themselves, I think,
without the help of Commodities brought from any other Countrey:
exchanging one Commodity for another; and carrying what they have to
other parts to supply themselves with what they want.

[Work not discreditable to the best Gentleman.] But Husbandry is
the great Employment of the Countrey, which is spoken of at large
before. In this the best men labour. Nor is it held any disgrace for
Men of the greatest Quality to do any work either at home or in the
Field, if it be for themselves; but to work for hire with them is
reckoned for a great shame: and very few are here to be found that
will work so; But he that goes under the Notion of a Gentleman may
dispence with all works, except carrying, that he must get a man to do
when there is occasion. For carrying is accounted the most Slave-like
work of all.

[How they geld their Cattel.] Under their Husbandry, it may not be
amiss to relate how they geld their Cattel. They let them be two or
three years old before they go about this work; then casting them and
tying their Legs together; they bruise their Cods with two sticks
tied together at one end, nipping them with the other, and beating
them with Mallets all to pieces. Then they rub over their Cods with
fresh Butter and Soot, and so turn them loose, but not suffer them
to lye down all that day. By this way they are secured from breeding
Maggots. And I never knew any die upon this.

[How they make Glew.] Whensoever they have occasion to use Glew,
they make it after this fashion. They take the Curd of milk, and
strain the water from it through a cloth. Then tying it up in a
cloth like a Pudding, they put it into boyling water, and let it
boyl a good while. Which done it will be hard like Cheese-curd,
then mixing it with Lime, use it. If it be not for present use,
they will roul up these Curds into a Ball; which becomes hard,
and as they have occasion will scrape some of it off with a Knife,
and so temper it with Lime. This Lime with them is as soft as Butter.

[Their Manufactures.] Their Manufactures are few: some Callicoes,
not so fine as good strong Cloth for their own use: all manner of
Iron Tools for Smiths, and Carpenters, and Husbandmen: all sorts of
earthen ware to boil, stew, fry and fetch water in, Goldsmith's work,
Painter's Work, carved work, making Steel, and good Guns, and the like.

But their Art in ordering the Iron-Stone and making Iron, may deserve
to be a little insisted on. For the Countrey affords plenty of Iron,
which they make of Stones, that are in several places of the Land;
they lay not very deep in the ground, it may be, about four or five
or six foot deep.

[How they make Iron.] First, They take these Stones, and lay them
in an heap, and burn them with wood, which makes them more soft
and fitter for the Furnace. When they have so done they have a
kind of Furnace, made with a white sort of Clay, wherein they put a
quantity of Charcoal, and then these Stones on them, and on the top
more Charcoal. There is a back to the Furnace, like as there is to a
Smith's Forge, behind which the man stands that blows, the use of which
back is to keep the heat of the fire from him. Behind the Furnace they
have two logs of Wood placed fast in the ground, hollow at the top,
like two pots. Upon the mouths of these two pieces of hollow wood
they tie a piece of a Deers Skin, on each pot a piece, with a small
hole as big as a man's finger in each skin. In the middle of each
skin a little beside the holes are two strings tied fast to as many
sticks stuck in the ground, like a Spring, bending like a bow. This
pulls the skin upwards. The man that blows stand with his feet, one
on each pot, covering each hole with the soles of his feet. And as
he treads on one pot, and presseth the skin down, he takes his foot
off the other, which presently by the help of the Spring riseth; and
the doing so alternately conveys a great quantity of wind thro the
Pipes into the Furnace. For there are also two Pipes made of hollow
reed let in to the sides of the Pots, that are to conduct the wind,
like the nose of a Bellows, into the Furnace.

For the ease of the Blower, there is a strap, that is fastned to
two posts, and comes round behind him, on which he leans his back:
and he has a stick laid cross-ways before him, on which he lays both
his hands, and so he blows with greater ease. As the Stones are thus
burning, the dross that is in them melts and runs out at the bottom,
where there is a slanting hole made for the purpose so big as the lump
of Iron may pass thro: out of this hole, I say, runs out the dross
like streams of fire, and the Iron remains behind. Which when it is
purified, as they think, enough, so that there comes no more dross
away, they drive this lump of Iron thro the same sloping hole. Then
they give it a chop with an Ax half thro, and so sling it into the
water. They so chop it, that it may be seen that it is good, Iron
for the Satisfaction of those that are minded to buy.

[How they make Butter.] For a farewel of their labours, let it not
be unacceptable to relate here a piece of their Housewifry; and tell
you how they make Butter. First, They boil the Milk, then they turn
it into a Curd; the next morning they skim off the Cream, and drill
it in an earthen Vessel with a stick having a cross at the bottom
of it, somewhat like a Chocolate stick. When the Butter is come,
they put it in a pan, and fry it, to get all the water dry out of it,
and so put it into an earthen pot for use.

[Shops in the City.] There are no Markets on the Island. Some few
Shops they have in the Cities, which sell Cloth, Rice, Salt, Tobacco,
Limes, Druggs, Fruits, Swords, Steel, Brass, Copper, &c.

[Prizes of Commodities.] As to the Prices of Commodities, they are
sold after this rate. Rice in the City, where it is dearest, is
after six quarts for fourpence half-peny English, or a small Tango,
or half a Tango; six Hens as much; a fat Pig the same: a fat Hog,
three shillings and six pence or four shilling: but there are none
so big as ours. A fat Goat, two and fix pence. Betle-nuts 4000 nine
pence Currant price, when a Trad.

And now we are discoursing or their Traffick, we will speak a little
of their Measures, Weights, and Coin.

[Of their Measures.] First for Measures. A Rian is a Cubit, which is
with them from the bone on the inside of the Elbow to the tip of the
fourth Finger. A Waddo rian is the Carpenters Rule. It is as much as
will reach from one Elbow to the other, the Thumbs touching one the
other at the tops, and so stretching out both Elbows.

For their Corn-measures, the least is a Potta, which is to contain
as much Grain as a man can hold heaped up in his whole hand palm
and fingers and all. Four Pottas make a lawful or Statute-measure,
called Bonder Nellia, signifying the King's measure. Which is the
King's ordinary allowance to a man, that is as much as he can eat in a
day. But we Englishmen were allowed two. Four of these Bonder Nellias
make a Courney. In fashion it is an handsom turned measure, some of
them are made with Canes like a Basket. Ten of these Courneys make a
Pale, that is forty measures, which is the usual quantity that they
sell for a Laree, or fifth part of a Piece of eight, the usual price
in Cande Vda. But in time of Harvest two Pales for a Laree. Four of
these Pales make an Ommouna. In which they keep the account of their
Corn, reckoning by Ommounas.

[Their Weights.] For their Weights, their smallest is Collonda, six
make just a Piece of eight. They have half Collondas and quarter
Collondas. When they are to weigh things smaller than a Collonda,
they weigh them with a kind of red Berries, which grow in the Woods,
and are just like Beads. The Goldsmiths use them, Twenty of these
Beads make a Collonda and Twenty Collondas make a Pallum.

[Measures bigger than the Statute punishable, but less not; and
why.] Here is no Punishment for those that make less weights and
measures. They are more circumspect that their measures be not too
big than too little. For Money being scarce, Corn passeth instead
of Money, and every man mets by his own measure. Which therefore he
makes as large as he can or dares, that so when he receives his Debt
of Corn, he may get as much as he can. Which upon this account would
be a great injury to the poorer sort of People, who commonly are
the Debtors. Therefore the Adigars Officers will go about the Towns
to examine the measures by a Statute-Measure; and where they find
great ones they cut them in pieces, and hang them up in the Streets
to terrifie others, and sometimes will amerce a Fine upon them that
have them.

[Of their Coin.] Of Money they have but three sorts that passeth
for Coin in the King's Dominions. The one was Coined by Portugals,
the King's Arms on one side, and the Image of a Frier on the other,
and by the Chingulayes called Tangom massa. The value of one is
nine pence English, Poddi Tangom, or the small Tangom is half as
much. There is another sort, which all People by the King's Permission
may and do make. The shape is like a fish-hook, they stamp what mark
or impression on it they please. The Silver is purely fine beyond
pieces of Eight. For if any suspect the goodness of the Plate, it is
the Custom to burn the Money in the fire red hot, and so put it in
water: and if it be not then purely white, it is not Currant Money.

The third sort of Money is the King's proper Coin. For none upon
pain of Death may Coin it. It is called a Ponnam. It is as small as a
Spangle: Seventy five make a piece of Eight, or a Spanish Dollar. But
all sorts of Money is here very scarce: And they frequently buy and
sell by exchanging Commodities.

[Of their Play.] Pass we now from their Business to their Pastimes
and Diversions. They have but few Sports, neither do they delight in
Play. Only at their New year, they will sport and be merry one with
another. Their chief Play is to bowl Coker-nuts one against the other,
to try which is the hardest. At this time none will work, until their
Astrolagers tell them, it is a good hour to handle their Tools. And
then both Men and Women do begin their proper works; the Man with
his Ax, Bill, and Hough, and the Woman with her Broom, Pestle, and
Fan to clean her Corn.

[A Play or a Sacrafice.] There is another Sport, which generally all
People used with much delight, being, as they called it, a Sacrifice
to one of their Gods; to wit, Potting Dio. And the benefit of it is,
that it frees the Countrey from grief and Diseases. For the beastliness
of the Exercise they never celebrated it near any Town, nor in sight of
Women, but in a remote place. The manner of the Game is thus. They have
two crooked sticks like Elbows, one hooked into the other, and so with
contrivances they pull with Ropes, until the one break the other; some
riding with one stick, and some with the other; but never is Money laid
on either side. Upon the breaking of the stick, that Party that hath
won doth not a little rejoyce. Which rejoycing is exprest by Dancing
and Singing, and uttering such sordid beastly Expressions, together
with Postures of their Bodies, as I omit to write them, as being their
shame in acting, and would be mine in rehearsing. For he is at that
time most renowned that behaves himself most shamelesly and beast-like.

[For the filthiness of it forbid by the King.] This filthy Solemnity
was formerly much in use among them; and even the King himself hath
spent time in it, but now lately he hath absolutely forbidden it under
penalty of a forfeiture of Money. So that now the practice hereof is
quite left off.

[A cunning stratagem of an Officer.] But tho it is thus gone into
dis-use, yet out of the great delight the People had in it, they of
Gompala would revive it again; and did. Which coming to the King's
ear, he sent one of his Noblemen to take a Fine from them for it. The
Nobleman knew the People would not come to pay a Fine, and therefore
was fain to go to work by a Stratagem. Pitching therefore his Tents
by a Pond, he gave order to call all the People to his assistance
to catch Fish for the King's use. Which they were very ready to do,
hoping to have the refuse Fish for themselves. And when they were all
thus assembled together with their Tools, and necessary Instruments
for that purpose, the Nobleman charged them all in the King's Name
according to the Countries fashion, which was by pulling off his Cap,
and falling down upon the ground three times, that not a man of them
should budge till they had paid such a Sum of Money, which was so
much a piece, for reviving that Play that the King had forbid. Which
they were forced to do before they departed from the Pond side. And
the Money was carried into the King's Exchequer.

[Tricks and feats of Activity.] When they would be merry, and
particularly at their great Festival in the New Moon of June or July
(before mentioned;) they have People that shew pretty tricks and feats
of Activity before them. A man sets a Pole of seven or eight foot long
upon his Breast; a Boy gets to the top of this Pole, and leans with
his Belly upon the end of it; and thus the man danceth with the Pole
on his Breast, and the Boy on it, and but little holding the Pole. A
man takes four Arrows with blades about a foot long, they are tied
one cross another, and so laid upon the end of a Pole, which rests
upon the man's Breast. On a sudden he squatts down upon the ground,
and the four Arrows all fall on the four sides of him, sticking in the
ground. Two Cross-bows stand bent one opposite to the other, charged
with Arrows drawn up to the heads: they are placed just so high, as
they may fly over a man's back when he lyes flat upon the ground. A
man danceth between them and shows Tricks, and when he is pleased,
he touches a string made fast to both their trickers, at which they
both instantly Discharge, and he falls flat down between them, and
the Arrows fly over his back, which if they hit him, undoubtedly fly
thro his Body. A Woman takes two naked Swords under each Arm one,
and another she holds in her mouth, then fetcheth a run and turns
clear over, and never touches the ground till she lights on her feet
again, holding all her Swords fast. There are divers other Diversions
of this nature too large to mention.

[At leisure times they meet, and discourse of News.] At their leisure
when their affairs will permit, they commonly meet at places built
for strangers and way-faring men to lodge in, in their Language called
Amblomb, where they sit chewing Betel, and looking one upon the other
very gravely and solidly, discoursing concerning the Affairs at Court,
between the King and the great Men; and what Employment the People of
the City are busied about. For as it is the chief of their business
to serve the King, so the chief of their discourse is concerning
such matters. Also they talk of their own affairs, about Cattel and
Husbandry. And when they meet with Outlandish-men they enquire about
the Laws and Government of their Countrey, and if it be like theirs;
and what Taxes and Duties we are bound to pay, and perform to our
King, &c.

[Drunkenness abhored.] And this manner of passing their leisure time
they account the greatest Recreation. Drunkenness they do greatly
abhor, neither are there many that do give themselves to it. Tobacco
likewise they account a Vice, but yet is used both by Men and Women;
but more eaten than drunk in Pipes.

[Their great delight in Betel.] But above all things Betel leaves
they are most fond of, and greatly delighted in: when they are
going to Bed, they first fill their mouths with it, and keep it
there until they wake, and then rise and spit it out, and take in
more. So that their months are no longer clear of it, than they are
eating their Victuals. This is the general practice both of Men and
Women, insomuch that they had rather want Victuals or Cloths than
be without it; and my long practice in eating it brought me to the
same condition. And the Reasons why they thus eat it are, First,
Because it is wholsom. Secondly, To keep their mouths perfumed: for
being chewed it casts a brave scent. And Thirdly, To make their Teeth
black. For they abhor white Teeth, saying, That is like a Dog.

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