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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



travels along the roads about Jaffna will not fail to notice 

 among the tobacco, brinjal, and other crops frequent and 

 more or less elaborate " scare-crows " (veruli) of various 

 grotesque shapes. These are not intended to frighten birds, 

 but to be a protection against the evil-eye.* It is hoped 

 that they will divert the attention of the passer-by, and 

 prevent his making a too close scrutiny of the crop itself — 

 a scrutiny which might have a baneful effect upon it.f 



The use of a conventional language by the cultivators I 

 need not here enlarge upon. 



NOTES. 



(1). — Astrology in Agriculture. 



From the 11 Panchankam^ for the Tarana year 1806 of the 

 Sdlivdkana (1884-5) calculated by Irakunataiyar sou of Santira- 

 sekaraiyar, of Nallur, near elaffna, and printed at the Private Press 

 at Vannainakar (Vaunarpannai) Jaffna," I extract the following : — 



Several "lucky hours" — generally on different days of the 



* They serve, however, also to keep away monkeys. 



f The late Government Agent of the Northern Province, Mr. 

 Dyke, on one occasion, in 1867, encamped at Karativu among the paddy 

 fields, and rode round and inspected the paddy just ready to be reaped. 

 The crop that harvest was a very good one, giving a rent to Government 

 of over 3,000 rix -dollars, but next year the rent fell to a little over 

 600 rix -dollars. The people attributed the failure of the crop to Mr. 

 Dyke's inspection of the fields. This was carrying the evil-eye theory 

 rather far, for it was not the crop that was inspected that failed, but the 

 succeeding one. I suppose the former was too far advanced to be 

 affected. 



| The Indian Almanac derives its name Panchankam (pahcha five, 

 anka, divisions) from its giving the time of commencement and duration of 

 five important things — 1st vdram, the Saturday ; 2nd titi, lunar day ; 3rd 

 nakshatram, the constellation for the day ; 4th yokam ; 5th karanam. For 

 the performance of the many ceremonies which nis religion enjoins, it is 

 necessary for a Hindu to examine one and all of these five essentials, to 

 determine whether the time is propitious or not." (Paper by Captain 

 Mackenzie on the "Panchankam" in Indian Antiquary, Vol. III., p, 137.) 



