Thë téxiîj^à-^ëâiëàted éó thé mféëiàp 'göis &rè-pöbr* ? meari,
aM fèohtemptiblé; ' ànil Usually46ööêW<teÉgt<^3.' %f çlay and’ wôodv In
^ ë i^ à î they" ™ irlTi hbfc-OöigSstdëy high, "without wiâdüWS,
and cotëtM; With %$§&£-tfëe leaves . jsElëphàAts^ifeèads! of ‘ earthen
ware, little pots, &c. are h u n g "ë^‘'^r^j^iutóöö|ièiif: to makö; their
•oflëthfes: At thè":dô,é(^dôf)!t^§S6 homely’ edifidek a pole of flag
^ 'h öW to ë^ ^ lflfeöed', ami isMr 4 t a ' p ie s t is seen -Siting during
tlK'îWhdfe of the day. There^Sno figure teoMdiëüfoustö find
a »pa*# within: theft- Swamrnies !p £ (! saëfed iïöagës sard :ê# ali
constructions, such as gigantic figurés óf men wM^hSars’ heads,
^eUderivëd~fidm th é ÜUoWérs of Ram, when he’îcàmeTo Cèÿi»
ion with an army-to stibdtie th e people -to Ms j^Mgièh^; representations
of wild beastej birds, p iëcé sù f cnnsè^iU^tó-httaour,
aod^sbihe^erj; indecent figures of men and ;wóm<em
The p r ie ^ of thé“mfeiot deities," C8®ed-f|)®n*es, though dressed
in the saine manner with- the TMnataste5s> -are easily distinguishable
by the smaller degree of respect which fe pàïd: them.
They arë continually met in their wandering ' excursions over
'the island ; mad, like all these '«£• the same dass? in ItóiSy ah# a
«et of l&zy, impudent vagabonds, who, without any exertionIdf
industry, are enabled to live wed by th e extxÿrtidïi6; Jwhiéh; they
practise on thé people. Even those who supply their demands
are conscious of their vices; but superstitious fears have taken
too deep a hold on the minds of the votaries tó permit them
to withdraw themselves from the yoke.“
The superstition of the Ceylonese serves instead of régulai:
endowments for the support of their religious establishments.
The Caudians indeed'allow certain portions of land and particular
taxes to maintain their priests and religious hoiises, particularly
those of Buddou. The inferior priests h'owever are
left tor support their temples and theihselvepbpj their own dexterity^
and. foAthjsj task; they a ire .v e i^ s g c c ^ fW ,^ J&. all sprts
0%>dkeases
wraths-’f t l^ prtest^arid they temple;..arpi. f HeoipQnstanfcijfoipedies.
B ^ a a l l u t h e reiigjous rfesoits 'arc daiiyiyirawded widh diseased
mtarieSy'J whoii expect.'rby the prayer^ rwhich they .-offer up to
appease; - the ineensed gods. • J.NorMcnifhey ever; sneglect to en-t
fame thej» prayers by a gid,_ ;whiell they ateyfa«tly(:deposit. op
the.-alterii v ^ withbalf duel cerenaiony to;<tho
gG#i and,, aftert’itsi p»rpose'1i6\tlips'.seEredi>i veryapa’odhntly converts
it to his own ysg. I t isoaoirui© with their ptip^s n e v ^ !
. .-dpsy some o f their ©rag prefer;/
and by.this.means. thO lofierin^s _<af the; dfetotees dBO pun^tu^hy
received,.; White .another party; ®#g tbe;pdsfcts. are making tolWS
o f .thsrcauiitry; .in se^chpof., casual ;Qontuibntions. s*t
T ^ t i ^ i p f ; 4rJthe§| is. of 4cour^(ithe^p^pXwhen th e priests*
exi^Cjt lb ^T riu c ip a l fti^us^ial
for. .a •Ceylbpesef::.when)dim. is apprehensive &S danger fcoro. tyis
illness, to «tevqte valenok to the devil; xh-
iu^ino^ptoBrhents him. The animal. then hpBae to
fatten tilkvthed|Wdese;bn poiest fin # it eaiweifjentcfo ^dedicate
Mm ad the Gbvel '.or temple* • -Whteei. 99$-
sacrifice is intended, it is ;usual to see, thp[ priest goin°\ from
village to village; to .edited.thm dedicated.;copksvfbB ^tbP-pceasipn,r
aiid he often poociuretesseverial doaens. at a fime. '
I The days appom,te^i|of mteaodayee on the places of yeligjnns;
worship are ; fce Wedriesday, and Saturday ’ of | every "w e ek th e
sick however; flock daily.to them. There are several particular
festivals held in honour of- their godas, and with a view to qou--
ciiliaie their favour.. In the month of June or July at the now
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