IN GENERAL. 



57 



place and manner the J-eewama is to be performed, together with 

 a list of the offerings required on the occasion. 



The Jeewama of some charms is as follows. — The Cattadiya, or 

 whoever has undertaken the task,* repairs to a grave at one of the 

 Yamas, and prepares what is called a Mai Bulat tatuwa or table 

 of flowers and betel leaves; this is a chair or something similar, 

 with a piece of white j* cloth or a green plantain leaf spread on it; 

 on this cloth or leaf must be placed nine different kinds of flowers, 

 a few of each kind, the yellow flowers of the Areca and the red 

 flowers of a small shrub called Rat Mai being generally of the, 

 number. With these is mixed some sandal wood powdered fine 

 and mixed with water; sometimes a few betel leaves, \ with a 

 copper coin, are added. The whole of this is called Mai Bulat 

 tatuwa. On this table is placed a thread or thin string called 

 Kan-ya Nool or Virgin Thread, so called from its having been 

 spun by a virgin from native cotton. || This thread is coloured 



generally use a language like that, which Reynolds describes in his Pickwick 

 Abroad and Mysteries of London as used by the abandoned desperados of 

 London. 



* Excepting in regular ceremonies, which are performed to cure a disease, 

 persons other than professional Cattadiyas often engage in minor matters of the 

 Art, such for instance as the "trying" of a single charm, unless its Jeewama 

 be considered to be one attended with danger. 



"f White has been the emblem of purity among all nations and in all ages of 

 the world. 



J These betel leaves must be taken from a plant, from which none have been 

 previously removed by men for the purpose of chewing. 



j| Kan-ya Nool threads are used in almost every Demon ceremony, but, what 

 particular virtue they have, or what mysterious relation they bear to demons, 

 I have never been able to ascertain. There are certain rules which are to be 

 observed by the girl in the spinning of this thread; but they are never strictly 

 observed now a days, lest a strict adherence to them may make her liable to 

 Tanicama or some other similar calamity. By these rules the girl must first 

 wash herself, and then putting around her neck a necklace of Rat mat flowers, 

 with her hair thrown loose on her shoulders, she must sit on fche threshold of 

 the door of her house, looking towards the setting sun about 6 p. m., and then 

 spin the mysterious thread. 



