10 



GENERAL REMARKS ON 



upheld merely by popular superstition, we find that not only are 

 many of its tenets sometimes contrary to each other, but that the 

 Cattadiyas (demon priests) and even the very books, which lay 

 down the principles of their system, often differ from each, other, 

 so much so, indeed, that it is very difficult for any one, undertaking 

 to give a connected and consistent account of the Demonism of 

 Ceylon, to avoid sometimes making in one part of his account a 

 statement inconsistent with another in another part of it. But as 

 far as the Cattadiyas and their followers are themselves concerned, 

 such difficulties are easily surmounted, by their attributing all such 

 contradictions, if pointed out, to the mysteries of the art, and to 

 their own ignorance, rather than to any fault of the system itself. 



The Priests of Demonism are styled Yakaduras, Yakdessas, or 

 more commonly, Cattadiyas-, and there is scarcely a single village 

 in the Island, which does not boast of at least one. Nearly twelve 

 months are spent in learning the trade, the most laborious and 

 principal part of the task of a beginner being, to commit to memory 

 the charms, invocations, and songs, which are essential to his voca- 

 tion. What the number of these is, may be estimated from the 

 fact, that some of the demon-ceremonies commence at 6 or 7 p. m. 

 and, lasting without intermission throughout the whole night, close 

 only about 6 or 7, and sometimes later, the next morning; during 

 all which time the performer has to repeat from memory all his 

 charms and songs, only now and then interrupted by a violent bout 

 of dancing. The dancing and the singing generally go on together, 

 except when the former happens to be of so violent a nature, as to 

 render it impossible to continue the other along with it. The pro- 

 fession was in early times exclusively confined to the low Castes, 

 such as Tomtom Beaters, Durayas, and Jaggeries, but at present 

 there is no such exclusiveness, men of every caste betaking them- 

 selves to it. The first man who ever practised the art, is said to 

 have been one Pradeys Rosia. 



A Cattadiya, who is a priest, though it be of demons, is yet never 

 looked upon as in any way distinguished from the rest of the people 

 by any supposed sanctity of character, or by a superior degree of 



