GUIDE TO THE COLOMBO MUSEUM. 171 



only colours properly used in painting pottery are red, yellow, 

 white, and black — the ordinary pigments of the Kandyan pamter. 

 Some plain, well-made clay pots are also shown in this case. (See 

 Plate XXIV.) 



Demons and Devil Ceremonies (Cases 28 and 29). 



The beliefs regarding the existence of evil and low spirits, and 

 their various characters, are many and elaborate. The yahsa 

 and 'preta are believed to cause many diseases, and are exorcised 

 in various ways. 



Among those to whom disease is attributed the Sanni Yaka takes 

 eighteen forms, and to him are attributed eighteen forms of diseases. 

 He is sometimes represented in a large mask with eighteen different 

 figures, and more often by eighteen different masks. (See Plate 

 XXV.) 



For each yaksa there is a different ceremony for its propitiation, 

 which mcludes offermgs of food, dances, music, lights, &c. In 

 Case 29 are shown the masks representing the attitudes of various 

 demons and a large Sanni Yaka. This case also contains the dress 

 of a devil dancer and various types of head-dresses used in devil 

 dancmg. (See Plates XXVI. and XXVII.) 



There is a general ceremony for warding off evil influences known 

 as Suniyan-kepima (the severing of bindiags). The decorations 

 for this ceremony and the dance connected therewith are very 

 elaborate. A throne room is built in the shape of atamagala, the 

 eight-sided figure, with green leaves, flowers, and plantain stalks, 

 lit with hundreds of torches dipped in oil. In front of this are placed 

 seven floral steps. The patient is made to wear a cro\^ai, anklets, 

 armlets, bracelets, belts, &c., made of stems of tender creepers. 

 The ceremony is concluded by the cuttiug down of all decorations, 

 and lime fruit and various other fruits, after the repetition of 

 invocations, charms, verses, and songs. The performers dress 

 themselves m ornamental vari-coloured hats, bodices, and skirts, 

 (See Plate XXVII.) 



Girl Devi is a she-demon who is propitiated also in a dance. Her 

 ornaments are represented in an elaborate dress, part of which is 

 shown in Case 28. The story of Giri Devi is that she was a handsome 

 yoimg princess, who, through shame of an intrigue with her own 

 brother, committed suicide, and afterwards was converted into a 

 demoness through the power of the King of Demons. 



Musical Instruments, &c. (Case 28). 



In Case 28 the following instruments used in magical ceremonies 

 are displayed : — 



Drums. 



Udekkiya. — A small drum used for keeping time to dancers ; 

 specially used in ceremonies connected with temples of devas. 



Bummediya. — A drum made of an earthenware spherical pot with 

 two openings, one snaaller than the other. The top opening is 

 covered with the prepared skin of a lizard (Water Monitor). This 

 is used m ceremonies connected with the reaping of crops, &c. 



Demala Bere. — A Tamil drum is made of a large hollowed piece 

 of wood tapering at the two ends. Both ends are covered with 

 prepared skin, and one of the skins is coated with a cement. The 



