Subdivision of Property. — Folyandria. ^t^d^ 



to be specially indebted for their existence to the circum- 

 stance that additional planting of this tree, as also its careful 

 cultivation, is one of the religious observances and duties 

 of the servants of Buddha. Whoever plants a cocoa-nut, 

 palm, or bread-fruit tree, performs a work agreeable to 

 Buddha. At the birth of a son, or on any similar festive 

 occasion, it is customary to plant a few cocoa-nut shoots in 

 the earth. Cocoa-nut palms form a very important part of 

 the property of a family. The father divides them as 

 heritable property into equal portions for bequest to his 

 children. Not one single palm but has an owner, though 

 instances occasionally occur in which several families arc 

 supported by the produce of a single palm ! 



This peculiar phenomenon has been followed by most 

 remarkable results bearing upon the social condition of the 

 native population. Increasing poverty, and the ever present 

 grinding necessity of preventing any further subdivision of 

 the joint property, have impelled the natives to resort to the 

 unnatural remedy of the brothers of a family having but one 

 wife among them ! The fact that there are in Ceylon fully 

 one-tenth more men than women, was the cause of the rapid 

 spread of this custom, and upheld Polyandria, or plurality 

 of husbands, as a desirable invention for remedying the 

 deficient supply of females. Many a female has three, 

 four, or even seven husbands, and all children that are born 

 of such a wedlock have equal rights, and are (differing in this 

 respect from the law of Hindostan, by which only the 



