No. 29.-— 1884,] THRESHING— FLOOK. 



237 



THE LANGUAGE OF THE THRESHING-FLOOR.* 



By J. P. Lewis, Esq., o.c.s. 

 (Read YUh February, 1884. J 



The use of a conventional language when engaged in the 

 various operations of paddy cultivation is not confined to 

 the Kandyans, but prevails more or less among paddy 

 cultivators'! throughout the Island, both Sinhalese and 

 Tamil.J For instance, I found that it existed among the 

 Sinhalese of the Balapitiya and Tangalla Districts of the 

 Southern, and among the Tamils of the Northern Province, 

 while Mr. Bell met with the same custom in the Rayigam 

 and Siyane Korales of the Western Province. Nor is it 

 only when engaged in paddy cultivation that the Sinhalese 

 make use of a conventional language. The same custom is 

 observed to some extent, at any rate by pilgrims, during 

 their pilgrimages to Adam's Peak, Tissamaharama, Katara- 

 gama, and other sacred places. The reason for this 

 custom is that given by Mr. levers, viz., to guard against 

 giving the yakmyo% an opportunity of taking advantage in 

 any way of what is being said to the prejudice of the 

 speakers. Thus, I have been informed, it does not do to 

 speak of " tree," for instance, by the word gaha, on account 



* Sin., <sK5338q))©c3 [goyibdse]; Tamil, <fE<sn uCcU&s? {kalappechchu]. 

 The Tamil name is the exact equivalent of the title of this Paper 



f When the people are engaged in reaping, threshing, or measuring 

 corn, they converse with each other in a peculiar language, which is 

 only understood by those who are cultivators. Those who are not 

 acquainted with these terms could not speak in a threshing-floor with- 

 out giving offence. — (Correspondent of Ceylon Observer.} 



J Doubtless the same practice prevails among the Madras Tamils, 

 and probably among paddy cultivators throughout India. 



§ In the place of the yaksayd of the Sinhalese, the Tamils have the 

 'kuli* (cffii-SYflasTT — I do not mean the ' labourers,' who are ^.eSlseir 

 [kulikal~] ). They and the yaksayd correspond, as Mr. levers says, in 

 many respects to our malicious fairies or ' good people.* 



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