the District of Nooioerakalaiviya. 163 



people, who, however, si tew their wonted apathy on this 

 occasion also. 



Hkh forest land is invariably selected for cotton. 



Tobacco, when grown at all, is only found in small gardens, 

 containing forty or fifty plants. 



With regard to chenas generally, it must be observed, that 

 unlike paddy fields, they belong not to individuals, but to 

 villages collectively ; and it is by amicable arrangements 

 among themselves, that it is in each season arranged what 

 portion shall be allotted to each man. As a general rule, 

 all land from which water drains to the tanks or field of a 

 certain village belongs to that village ; and to its inhabitants 

 is reserved the right of cutting chenas within the limits so 

 defined. 



For some reason, which I do not know, chenas are not 

 portioned off by parallels, but by radiating lines from some 

 central spot, such as a large tree, boulder, &c. 



Inhabitants. 



The mass of the inhabitants are Singhalese, approximating 

 in manners, feelings, and appearance to the Highlanders, and 

 not to the degenerate race which swarms in the Maritime 

 districts, and for whom they entertain a thorough contempt. 

 Every man is a cultivator or proprietor of land, and I do not 

 suppose that there is one Singhalese villager who is to any ex- 

 tent dependant on a trade for livelihood. Many persons are by 

 caste mechanics, as blacksmiths, goldsmiths, washers, tom- 

 tom beaters, &c, but the last two bodies alone devote any 

 attention to their hereditary business, and even their reward 

 consists not in money, but in land ; thus the people of a 

 village will give a piece of land to some dobies on condition 

 that they wash for them and attend on occasions of cere- 

 mony ; so it is with torn torn beaters, If a man wishes to 



