﻿430 ON THE RELIGION AND MANNERS 



fit of it. There is another fan of the same shape, but 

 smaller, called JVattapetie, which serves the same 

 purpose as fans in Europe. — The priests generally 

 carry them. 



C A STS. 



The Singalese ?LTe divided into four principal casts, 

 That of the Kinsrs — Ragia. 

 That of the Brahmins. 

 That of the J^elendes. 

 That of the Tchouderes. 



Tlie two first casts do not exist in Ceylon. That 

 of the Kings, is divided into Tchiiestri Ragia 

 Vanse, LiTCinvi Ragia Vanse, Akkake Ragia 

 Vanse. 



The Brahmins distinguish the Vedehrahnine Vanse, 

 as persons to he solely employed in matters of reli- 

 gion, and in the study of abstract sciences; other 

 Brahmins as doctors of physic, and a third class as 

 manufacturers of silks and stuffs. 



The Velcnde cast is divided into Velende Fanse, 

 and JFadighe Vanse, commonly called Tehetis. — The 

 Tchouderes comprise all inferior casts ; white peo- 

 ple and 'cedas are of no cast. Uut as all these are the 

 casts of ancient and fabulous times, they can only 

 be said at present to exist in books. 



The following is the order of casts in Candy. 



'F I RST, Vellal or Goi Vanse. — The Vellales were ovi- 

 ginally labourers, as will appear from the significa- 

 tion of the words ; x;el means a marshy field, fit for 

 the cultivation of rice, ale is desire, fancy, love. — 

 Vellale therefore signifies, the attachment of people 

 of that cast to places fit for the cultivation of rice. 

 They Mere also called goi-game, from goi labourer 

 and game villages. They probably took this name 

 %vhen they united themselves into a small society, 



and 



