amongst the Singhalese. 255 



to expect that English epithets of endearment are generally 

 used by the Singhalese. In my varied intercourse with my 

 countrymen, I have, however, not known more than one 

 instance of the kind, and that confined to a dashing young 

 fellow who had been the domestic servant in an English 

 family. It is possible, nevertheless, that there are other in- 

 stances of Natives usinsr English household terms of endear- 

 to o 



ment ; but I may venture to assert that the practice is not 

 general, and that it is not likely to be so hereafter. In the 

 instance* referred to by me above, the words used were " My 

 dear." A person who proved the fact gave it as " Dio " ; 

 and between the ignorance of the witness, and the dulness 

 of the Interpreter, anew word appeared; and the Judge 

 took it down " Bui " — a fact which moreover shows that the 

 Natives are not familiar with such terms. 



I have considered the titles of address given to males. It 

 may be convenient here to enter into an investigation of 

 those usually applied to the female sex. 



A Lady of distinction, such as the wife of a Modiiar, is 

 €>Q^B^^c<Si^\E)5 or CiWz&Z&i&S : she is some- 



times addressed by equals 0(3©^e)©3>55©cQ3, qQo€)Z5)&; 

 or 0©a <^)<£3, A lady who is a grade inferior to the last re- 

 ceives the title of e»;)*f)@^J. It is however the usual address 

 of the wife of a Mohancliram or Appohamy, and of the unmar- 

 ried daughter of a Modiiar. c©3&^ is the title of an Arachy's 

 wife, whilst ©SD^cd is that of the wife of Kangany, Vidhau 

 or Gamarala ; 2ft 3 D is the honorary designation of a respec- 

 table Vellala female of the lower classes. It is sometimes 

 assumed by males of the same standing in society as the 

 females last mentioned, especially in the Southern Province; 



* No. 35,800. District Court of Colombo, South, before Judge Langslow, for 

 compelling Defendant to marry Plaintiff— a witness stated : " the defendant ad- 

 dressed the plaintiff 4 Ado Hami,' she him " Pulle ; " and when she called him so, 

 he called her "bui" (Dear). I believe them to be very endearing terms."-— ^ee 

 Judge Langslow's notes of the evidence. 



