8 



H'ites and ceremonies have been perpetuated unimpaired 

 ^through countless generations, and that a custom 2,400 

 years old would be by no means a marvel of antiquity. 



The celebrated Bo-tree at Anuradhapura has a re- 

 corded and well-authenticated history extending over 

 :2000 years, and, as may be supposed, at that place an 

 *oath taken by it is considered to be a most binding obliga- 

 tion on a Buddhist to speak the truth. 



In the neighbourhood of Miimeriya there is a proverb 

 "'©£j5<?^53^di a 253© -e3c0xsi£" Minneriye panam tiyanda— 

 referring to the custom of taking a solemn oath by laying 

 a silver fanam upon a sacred rock by the side of the lake. 

 The rock or slab upon which the coin is deposited was 

 formerly part of the bund or embankment. It seems to 

 have been thought, in some way or other, to be indued 

 v with a peculiar holiness, and it was removed about half a 

 rmile from its original position, and a Dewala built near 

 lit. The oath is taken in presence of the Kapurala ; and 

 it seems to be an essential part of the ceremony that the 

 ■money should first be deposited. 



In the same way a relic has been recently discovered 

 iin the Morowak Korale, and it is turned to a similar 

 devout, and at the same time profitable, purpose. Both 

 these relics, however, have a real and very remarkable 

 ^characteristic. It is reported that they positively gua- 

 rantee that a man who swears by them speaks the truth:; 

 whereas in a court of justice it is too well known that as 

 a .general rule no such result can be looked for. 



There are few localities regarded with more universal 

 reverence in Ceylon than Kataragama* The legends com- 

 mented with Kandaswamiy, the tutelary deity of the place, 



