amongst the Singhalese. 241 



diction of the Singhalese Government from the possessions 

 of the Portuguese. As the Kandian Provinces alone (which 

 were retained by the Singhalese) became thus universally 

 known as Singh ale } a misapprehension of its cause and origin 

 led Europeans to distinguish the Maritime Singhalese from 

 their Kandian neighbours, both of whom are descended from 

 the same stock, speak the same language, are subject to the 

 same habits, and are possessed of nearly the same feelings. 

 Hence the distinction to which reference is made. 



There is however one distinction, in respect to their names, 

 which I may notice here The low country Singhalese have 

 more names than their Kandian countrymen. Whilst the 

 genama or " family name," the bat- kavana-nama, i( the house- 

 hold term of endearment " — usually given on the occasion of 

 giving food to a child for the first time, which is celebrated 

 by a festival, — and the patahendi nama s or the name which is 

 assumed on obtaining office, are the same in both countries : 

 yet the names which distinguish the Kandian from the Mari- 

 time Singhalese are the Christian and Sur names* of the 

 latter. Tfie " Sur" names are those which they have bor- 

 rowed from the Portuguese, such as D'Saram, D'Alwis, 

 Silva, Perera, Dias, D'Saw, &c. &c, and the example having 

 been first set by the highest families of the land, the lower 

 classes have considered it a privilege to be allowed to assume 

 the like names. As to the Christian names, they are gene- 

 rally assumed by all classes, both Budhists and Christians, 

 upon the ceremony of Baptism, of which Sir James Em- 

 erson Tennent thus writes, in his work on " Christianity 

 in Ceylon." 



" It had been declared honorable by the Portuguese to undergo such 

 a ceremony ; it had been rendered profitable by the Dutch, and after 300 

 years' familiarity with the process, the natives were unable to divest 



* In accordance with this practice amongst the Singhalese, the Tamils of Batta- 

 cotta, have assumed, upon Baptism, such names as Carpenter Rowe, Morgan, 

 Covington, &c. &c. 



