132 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
not be drunk. Again, in case of fever a decoction would be 
given of a number of vegetable productions that were believed 
to be cooling. I may here mention that when questioned as 
to the exact effect any one of these ingredients would speci- 
fically bring about, I could get no clear answer. I found that 
both Cassia auriculata and Evolvulus alsinoides were regarded 
as most beneficial in fever, but I failed to find an answer as 
to their direct action. Equally Munronia pumila would be 
considered as a most valuable medicine for fits, as well as 
fevers. 
Charms and incantations appear to be more important than 
medicines with the people. 
I found that castor oil was appreciated and its action 
understood, but it is curious to note that it is supposed to 
be effective by outward application, as well as inward. 
Generally speaking, I found that the local knowledge of our 
plants was very wide, and it would be difficult to find a plant 
of any use that the people could not correctly name. 
In some cases where a plant was rare, I found that no name 
could be given to it ; as, for instance, I obtained a few examples 
of Centranthera procumbens, but the people had no acquaintance 
with its name whatever. Nor did I find names invented in 
order to afford answers to my questions: it was a case of 
giving the right answer, or expressing ignorance. 
I might mention incidentally, that though our familiar 
Kitul (Caryota wrens) is well known, I found the people 
equally unacquainted with toddy or jaggery, except as 
purchaseable commodities, just as much as kerosine oil is. 
This ignorance of a source of alcohol may have much to do 
with the striking absence of crime in the country I refer to, 
and I mention it in passing, as worthy of consideration. On 
the other hand, I would again point out that owing to the 
rigidity of certain customs there is not the same scope for 
jealousy over women that plays such an important factor in 
crimes of violence in other parts of this Island. Again, it 
should not be lost sight of that in the Vedda country small 
groups of people congregate round centres where water, 
however limited in quantity and impure in quality, is to be 
found, and are therefore much more mutually dependent 
