1 94 On the Principles of Singhalese Chronology, 



after taking away the awatchawa " the extra shadow," the 

 following numbers of feet stand for each pa^ya, either from 

 the sun-rise, or to sun-set, as the case may be, namely 84, 

 49, 24, 16, 12, 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1J, 1, \, 0. Thus in the 

 former case 18 -J ft. after the awatchawa has been taken 

 away, being between 24 and 16, is between 3 and 4 pseyas 

 from sun-rise. 



To reckon the time when the sun or moon is not visible, 

 they have a cup called pae-taetiya, made of some kind of 

 metal, or cocoanut shell, with a small hole in the centre, which 

 will fill in just in one pseya when placed in a vessel of still 

 water. 



The Singhalese speak of the time of the day in a dif- 

 ferent mode from what the English do. They do not say, it 

 is three o'clock, or three on the clock. This mode of expres- 

 sion must be of a comparatively recent date, as clocks and 

 watches were not in use at a very remote period. There is 

 an unidiomatic and corrupt way of speaking of time, among 

 the Singhalese, in the neighbourhood of towns, inhabited by 

 Europeans and their descendants ; such as, Been Kiyada f 

 Pahayi, Si How many is it now ? Five ?" Meaning, " What 

 is the hour now ? Five ?" This mode of conversation concern- 

 ing time is unintelligible among the Singhalese people of 

 the villages, who have less intercourse with- Europeans 

 and speak the language in its purity. Their question, 

 in the place of " What o'clock is it now ?" is thus ; — 

 " Dan eliivenda for eliwela or rcewenda or rmcela) kl 

 pay ada f" How many pajyas is it now to be morning? (or 

 since morning, or to be night, or since night ?) Sometimes, 

 speaking with respect to the feet of the shadow of the Sun 

 or Moon, they say: « Dan Ira (or Handd) mudunata enda 

 (or hcerild) dolos piyaicaray." — It is twelve feet the Sun 

 (or Moon) to come to the top (or having turned.) 



