



Q N A T H A "N D E D E A ; L. 

 .By Bertram Fdlk»? Hartshorn k, o. c. s. 



Tt has been a common practice in all ages of the 

 •world to ratify a solemn agreement, and to settle an}' dis- 

 puted question regarding a moral obligation, or a mutual 

 'contract, by means of some form of oath or ordeal. The 

 'reason of this is obvious. It is supposed that such a pro 

 xedure affords a security for truthful and honest dealing;; 

 • and it is curious to observe the various methods in which 

 'different races of people have set about attaining this 

 desirable end. The Sinhalese Buddhists are in no way 

 ^conspicuous for devotion to truth ; but although ordi- 

 nary lying : is regarded by them as venial, if not commend- 

 able, they put the fullest confidence in any statement 

 made according to one of the many forms of oath which 

 ~ ; they themselves employ, and they consider that any vio- 

 lation of such oath is followed by the most disastrous con- 

 sequence . The story of king Chetiya, in the Ummagga 

 Jdtakaya, is one which illustrates the Buddhist idea upon 

 "this subject. It is narrated that " at the time when the 

 ><( life of man was longer than it now is, king Chetiya ruled 

 " over Damhadiwa. His body was redolent of sandalwood, 

 F and from his mouth proceeded the odour of the blue 

 " lotus flower ; he was endued with t'he superhuman power 

 P (irdhi) of sitting cross-legged in the air. He was ever 

 W guarded, night and day, by the four gods of the Kamawa- 

 " chara world. His fourfold army consisted of innumera- 

 ^'ble elephants and horses, and he exercised supreme 



