ClIAP. II.J 



AGRICULTURE. 



439 



mistook it for blood, and spread tlie false cry that the 

 king had been slain. ^ 



Intoxicating Hqiiors are of sufficient antiquity to be 

 denounced in the moral system of Buddhism. The use 

 of toddy and drinks obtained from the fermentation of 

 " bread and flour " is condemned in the laity, and 

 strictly prohibited to the priesthood ^ ; but the Arabian 

 geographers mention that in the twelfth century, wine, 

 in defiance of the prohibition, was imported from Persia, 

 and drank by the Singhalese after being flavoured with 

 cardamoms.^ 



1 Rajavali, p. 221, 

 ^ II.vkdy's Buddhhm, c. 

 p. 474. 



cli. 



2 Enmsi, GcograjMc, Sic., Trad. 

 JaxjbeuT; torn. i. p. 73. 



F F 4 



