•58 journal, r. a. s. (ceylon). [Vol. VIIL 



( udekk'iya) and dancing in front of the seated house-inmates 

 ( dt/tor ay 6) recites songs (yddlni ) in honor of Pattini and 

 Kataragama Deviyo.* 



Having continued this performance for some time, the 

 Kapurala calls for a pekiditn-tada or pingo of three neli rice, 

 six cocoanuts,abunch of plantains, a pumpkin, and a packet 

 of chillies (miris-mula), and smoking it with dummala 

 (resin) mcense,f places it in front of the figured curtain 

 inside the mal-pela. Again chanting awhile, he has brought 

 to him some untasted oil in an arecanut leaf cone (goluwak) 

 covered with a clean cloth, which, after perfuming, he pours 

 into one of the lamps (scooped out of half papaw fruits by 

 the Madtipurayd, an assistant, and hung round the pela), 

 lights the wick and bids the dturayo light the rest. When 

 this is done, and he has recited more yddlni, the Kapurala 

 desires them to bring their panduru or money offerings, 

 which are sprinkled with saffron water, saluted and 

 deposited with the tada. Next, the Kapurala, still singing, 

 covers himself entirely, except the face, with a red cloth and 

 opens the box containing the deyiran ; then washing his 

 hands, and perfuming the bangles, puts them on his wrists 

 and begins to janggle them (halan-pdwddenawd) , finally 

 appealing to the dturayo to. offer them panduru. 



Continuing his chant, the Kapurala drives a stake into the 

 ground together with a piece of a plantain stalk to which he 

 affixes twelve torches at the bottom, and puts some cocoanut 

 refuse round the foot. Then taking three betel leaves he holds 

 them over the lighted torches, rubs them on the heads of 

 the dturayo, and tosses them once or thrice into the air. 

 If the majority of the leaves fall face upwards, it is looked 

 upon as a good omen ; if otherwise, the gods are not satisfied 

 ( Decl-dosa ).% Subsequently two additional six-kuruni bags 

 of paddy with two cocoanuts in each are placed near the 

 chair on which the kalan box stands. The Kapurala recom- 

 mencing his incantations, separately ties to three pieces of 

 cocoanut stalk, a cocoanut flower and a pair of young cocoa- 

 nuts, and directs the dturayo to touch them ; after which he 



* Note 9. f See C. A. S. Journ. 1865-6 p. 62, note. 



% Cf. Mr. Fowler's account of the Panikkans' similar ceremony, ante 

 p. 15. 



