< K Y L O N. 



705 





,igion. 



Buddhu. 



any further preparation. In writing, they employ a 

 tine pointed strel pencil, set in a wooden or ivory han- 

 dle, for engraving the characters on the talipot 

 which is very thick and tough : and in order to ren- 

 der the letters more visible and distinct, they after- 

 ward* rub them over with oil mixed with charcoal 

 powder, which has the effect of rendering them so 

 permanent that they cannot then be effaced. If one 

 slip is not sufficient to contain all they wish to write 

 on any particular occasion, they string several toge- 

 ther with a bit of cord, and attach them to a piece 

 of board, in the same way as we file newspapers. 

 Sometimes these talipot books are richly ornamented, 

 and bound in thin lacquered boards of ivory, or even 

 silver and gold. In the dispatches which were sent 

 by the king to the Dutch government, the monarch 

 seemed particularly anxious to display his magnifi- 

 cence in the splendour and richness with which they 

 were executed. The writing was inclosed in leaves of 

 beaten gold, in the shape of a cocoa-tree leaf. This 

 was rolled up in a cover richly ornamented, and al- 

 most concealed in a profusion of pearls and precious 

 stones. The whole was enclosed in a box of silver 

 or ivory, which was sealed with the emperor's great 

 seal. The same splendour has been observed in the 

 letters sent to our governor, since we have had pos- 

 session of the island. See PercivaL 



Of the religion of the Ceylonese we have very im- 

 perfect and contradictory accounts. They acknow- 

 ledge the existence of one Supreme Being, the Crea- 

 tor and Governor of the world, but they have also a 

 number of inferior deities and evil demons. Of the 

 former, the most exalted is Buddhu, whom some re- 

 present as originally a divine person, and others as 

 the spirit of a good man crowned with divine honours. 

 He is said to have appeared in the world in the form 

 of a man, and after having performed a vast number 

 of virtuous actions, and been transformed into a great 

 variety of shapes, he ascended again into heaven, 

 where he acts as a mediator with the Supreme Being, 

 and procures the pardon of his worshippers. The 

 Ceylonese dedicate no temples to the Supreme Being; 

 but those of Buddhu are superior to those of all the 

 other deities. They have no certain form, as they 

 are generally built in the caves of rocks, and it de- 

 pends on the particular nature of the cave, whether 

 the statue of Buddhu is standing, or sitting with its 

 legs across, or lying upon its right side. This figure 

 is invariably yellow from the head to the feet, and a 

 large garment of the same colour covers the whole 

 body except the right breast. On one side of the 

 temple there is always a monument in the form of a 

 cupola, placed on a moulded pedestal, which is said 

 to contain a particle of the bones of Buddhu. Cap- 

 tain Percival mentions, that the ruins of the temples 

 and pagodas which he saw in the interior of the coun- 

 try were all of hewn stone, and of much superior 

 vorkmanship to those on the coast. Several of them 

 were in a state of perfect preservation, and, on compa- 

 rison with the modern structures, afford the strongest 

 proof that the inhabitants of this country had for- 

 merly attained a much higher degree of improve- 

 ment than at present appears among them. As the 

 temples of Buddhu are superior to those of the other 

 deities, so the priests of that god are held in the high- 

 est estimation, and are endowed with a variety of pe- 



TOL. V. PART ni 



culiar privileges.' They are chosen by the king Ccyloa- 

 from the body of nobles, and in consequence of their ^^"V" 1 

 birth, they are generally men possessed of power 

 and influence independent of their sacred character. 

 Though they are chosen by the sovereign, he retains 

 no authority over them, but endeavours to cultivate 

 their regard, by respecting their privileges, and loading * - 

 them with favours. They choose their own superiors, 

 and the chief priest is invested with the power of 

 settling all religious disputes. They have also the 

 chief management of public affairs, and are exempt- 

 ed from the payment of all taxes. The highest ho- 

 nours are paid them by the rest of the nation. All , ' 

 ranks bow down before them ; when they sit, their 

 seats are covered with a white cloth, and when they 

 walk, the broad end of the talipot leaf is borne be- 

 fore them ; privileges which, in Ceylon, are of the 

 highest kind, and shared with them only by the mo- 

 narch. But while the priests enjoy these and other 

 honours, they ate also placed under certain restric- 

 tions. They are not allowed to marry, and they are 

 also prohibited the use of wine and animal food. They 

 have an opportunity, however, of escaping from these +, ^ 

 restraints, as they are allowed to lay aside their or- 

 der whenever it suits their inclination. The temples 

 dedicated to the other deities are much inferior to 

 those of Buddhu. In general, they are poor, mean, 

 contemptible huts of one story high, without win- 



dows, constructed of clay and wood, and covered 

 with cocoa-nut leaves. There is no figure too ridi- 



culous to find a place in them ; besides swammics of 

 all descriptions, there are representations of wild 

 beasts, birds, pieces of consecrated armour, and some 

 very indecent figures of men and women. The priests 

 of the inferior deities, though dressed like those of 

 Buddhu, may easily be distinguished by the smaller 

 degree of respect which is paid to them. They are 

 continually met in their wandering excursions over 

 the island, and like all those of the same class in In- 

 dia, are a set of lazy, impudent vagabonds, who, 

 without any exertion or industry, are enabled to live 

 comfortably by the extortions which they practise 

 upon the people. But though the Ceylonese wor- 

 ship these various deities, the chief object of their 

 fear are the subordinate demons, whom they consider 

 as the spirits of wicked men. These impress their 

 mind with much greater awe than the more power- 

 ful divinities who dispense blessings among them. * 

 They, indeed, think that their country is in a parti- 

 cular manner delivered over to the dominion of evil 

 spirits. There is no people who labour so muck 

 under the influence of superstitious fear as the Cey- 

 lonese. Omens regulate the whole of their conduct, 

 and even decide upon their destiny from their birth. 

 The Mahavellaganga is said, by Mr Cordiner, to be 

 held in vhe same religious veneration by the Cey- 

 lonese as the Ganges by the inhabitants of Bengal. 

 The water of this river is considered as effectual in 

 washing away sin ; but dead bodies are never thrown 

 into it. The immortality of the soul, and the resur- 

 rection of the body, are doctrines generally believed 

 among the Ceylonese. They suppose that the souls 

 of the just are immediately after death admitted into 

 the rank of gods, and that their ancient prophets 

 and good kings are long since employed in exercising 

 the power of deities : while, on the other hand, the 









