COCOA-NUT TREE. 307 



down upon him the anger of the " All-seeing,"* 

 be forgiven. 



Having once commenced, the rajah and his 

 followers continued to live on the prescribed diet. 

 The former, in obedience to the commands of 

 Budhoo, by the Maha Sudona ; and the latter, 

 from necessity, there being none of their accus- 

 tomed fruits, rice, or roots to be met with so near 

 the ocean. They found the water f within the 

 nuts sweet and delicious, and pure as crystal it- 

 self, (of which mineral their country produced 

 abundant varieties,) whilst the fleshy part of it 

 was a cooling and satisfying food. 



The prescribed time rolled on ; and day after 

 day convinced the delighted followers of their 

 suffering prince, that truth came from above. 

 The rajah gradually lost the white and scal}^ 

 skin, which had enveloped him like the armour 

 of the great ant-eater of the interior ; J whilst 

 the glow of heat which pervaded his extremities, 

 convinced him of the near approach of his pro- 

 mised recovery. Thankful to his great preserver, 

 he omitted not to perform the duties which in 

 his visions had been dictated to him ; and on 

 the first stone, which appeared durable and be- 



* " Samanta-chacksa, " covered with eyes, 

 -j- The green cocoa-nut, called in Singalese, Koroomba. 

 ^ Probably the Manis, commonly called Negombo Devi). 



X 2 



