WEST AND SOUTH COASTS OF CEYLON. 43/ 



on Others proceflions appeared ;. feafts feemed prepar- 

 ed; food was diftributed to the poor of various nations 

 (as appeared by their various habits) ; and the different 

 habits and manners of men in aBive life were pour- 

 trayed. A large white elephant made a confpicuoiis 

 figure in moft of thefe affemblies. The ftyle or cojiume 

 of thefe paintings was entirely different from that of 

 the Hindus on the peninfula, and plainly belonged to a 

 different people, though they undoubtedly fliewed thofe 

 of the Cingakfe and the followers of Boodhoo. On 

 obferving in thefe reprefentations, chairs, tables, metal 

 lamps, and raifed feats, fuch as are ufed by the prefent 

 race inhabiting the coail of the European part of CeyloUy 

 which I had at firfl: fuppofed they had borrowed from 

 their prefent mafters, I refletled diat thefe indicated a 

 connexion with the nations to the eaftward which ftill 

 ufe them, and that cuftom fo widely different from that 

 of the Hindus^ who always feat themfelves on carpets, or 

 cloths fpread on the ground, might have been import- 

 ed from ChinUt Sia?n, or Pegu, with their other cuftoms 

 and religion. 



Without the temple, but within the enclofure, was a 

 folid building, with a cupola figured roof: ic had no 

 opening whatever; within it they told us Boodhoo 

 was interred, or rather the facred elephant. 



On my expreffing a wifh to be poffefied of a book 

 containing the hiftory and drawings of the deeds of 

 Boodhoo, the prieftsJnformed me, through a very in-' 

 different interpreter, that it could not be copied off with- 

 in a fortnight, but they promifed to have a drawing of the 

 principal figure ready on my return from Matura. 



They were as good as their promife ; for on my re- 

 turn on the evening of the 31ft Marchy they had ready 

 for me the outlines of the principal figure of Boodhoo, 

 (Plate No. 2,) with fome account of it, in the Cingakfe 

 chara6ler. 



Near 



