No. 29. — 1884.] PADDY CULTIVATION CUSTOMS. 



319 



oil, salt, or money ; but there is no objection to his receiving 

 such articles.* 



There are many superstitions connected with agriculture, 

 generally among the more primitive Tamil peasantry. For 

 instance, certain days fixed by astrologers or the almanacs 

 are called " worm days " ( pulundl ), and anything sown on 

 such days is supposed to be liable to be eaten by worms. 

 On some days the sap is supposed to run up, and therefore 

 on them fruit trees may be planted, while on other days it is 

 supposed to run down, and such days are suitable for the 

 planting of bulbs.f 



Various charms* are used to prevent the attacks of 

 flies, worms, crabs, and other pests, Olas, sprinkled with 

 saffron-water, and previously charmed by the repetition over 

 them of mantirams for hours together, are tied to the plants 

 for this purpose. Sometimes with the same object the 

 cultivator makes a vow of a new earthen pot with which to 

 celebrate a ponkal after the reaping of the crops. 



There is still a widely-prevailing belief in the evil-eye 

 (kannuru) and the evil-tongue ( ndvuru J.§ The visitor who 



* Superstition and self-interest are here in most convenient 

 agreement. 



f Cf. the American song quoted by Mr. Bell : — 



" If ye plant yer corn on the growin' moon, 



And put up the lines for crows, 

 You'll find it will bear, and yer wheat will, too, 



If it's decent land where't grows. 

 " But potatoes now are a different thing, 



They want to grow down, that is plain • 

 And don't ye see you must plant for that 



When the moon is on the wane. " 



(C. A. S. Journal, 1883, p. 68.) 



% See Note (3). 



§ Hence the proverb <3seb ^fiSls^^ ^ulSI^^lc, <s^s3r 6Tr6)s^^ 

 ^uu<s <3k.L—tT£$ (kal erikkut tappindlum kan erikkut tappak kuddtu) 

 " Though one may escape the cast of a stone, he cannot escape the glance 

 of an evil-eye." (Perc, 2216.) " The evil-eye (aessr ep/r^) and tbe 

 evil-tongue (,® ^^J^) are feared very generally. To avert their influence 

 as regards fruits, &c, in a garden, it is common to put up some object of 

 attraction, as a water-pot whitewashed, inverted on a stump, and dotted 

 with black spots, &c. In some enclosures grotesque images are seen. " 

 {Ibid) These pots may be seen also in Sinhalese gardens. 



