246 Sir Joun D’Orxty’s Sketch of the 
is terminated, they both again repair to the temple with a pingo of fruits, 
and become absolved from their interdiction ; if both persons, of if neither 
of them be burnt, the land is equally divided between them. If the hand of 
one only be burnt he loses the land, and both dewe sitta are delivered to the 
other, and if required a sitta of decision; the Kapurale and officers who 
attend are entitled to fees of one ridi each, the chief to a fee of four ridi 
for the dewe sitta, and after their return from the ordeal to five or seven 
and a half vidi from both. 
Sometimes, at the desire of one or both, the parties are sent to swear at 
some celebrated temple in the country, as Embakki, Dodanwele, Alawatugoda, 
Alutunwere, Dumbulle, and rarely Kattregam ; and sometimes in the desa- 
vonies the arms are carried from the temple to a small ornamented hut 
erected for the purpose in the disputed land, and the ceremony performed 
in the same manner. 
2d. By Paddy. 
When the paddy of the disputed field is ripe, a small sheaf is set apart 
by the possessor in presence of his adversary ; and on a day appointed by 
the chief, both parties proceed to the spot with a messenger, and the arms 
are brought from a temple to a decorated hut within it. After offering a 
small sum of money, both parties together separate the grains from the ears, 
beat out the rice in a mortar, boil it, and eat a small quantity, repeating 
frequently during the performance of all these works the dewe wasagama, 
which is brought in writing by the messenger, containing the solemn asser- 
tion of their respective rights, and imprecation that if their words be false, 
the gods will inflict a calamity upon them within seven or fourteen days, as 
the term may have been fixed. 
They depart to their homes and live with the greatest circumspection 
during the period, and at the expiration of it appear before their chief. 
They had previously declared and caused to be written any existing sick- 
ness or loss in their respective families, and each now relates any thing 
which may have befallen his adversary since the oath: and if any serious 
evil prove to haveshappened, as the death or sickness of himself or near 
relation, or any of his cattle ; if his crops have been spoiled, or property 
lost; if a building or a fruit tree have fallen, he is held to have lost. 
If evil have befallen both or neither, the land is divided. After appear- 
ing they proceed to the temple from whence the arms were brought, and 
making offerings and imploring protection, become absolved as before. 
