No. 29. —1884.] PADDY CULTIVATION CUSTOMS. 325 



(14) Tying tobacco leaves into bundles — March to June, August 



to October. 



(15) Planting trees, &c, — no particular month specified. 



(16) Buying and selling cattle, &c. 



(17) Branding and castrating cattle. 



(2). — Ceylon Ploughs. 



As it may be interesting to compare the varieties of ploughs 

 used by the natives of Ceylon in different parts of the country, 

 I annex some sketches of Kandyan and Low-country (Sinhalese) 

 ploughs. It will be noticed that they are none of them of the 

 same pattern as the Jaffna plough. (Plate No. 1.) 



The principal plough used by the Kandyans is shown in Plate 

 No. 2. It is called the badavata nagula. The handle (F) is 

 generally a rude representation of a bird — hence its name nimun- 

 kurulld. It is usually made of buffalo horn. 



The other Kandyan plough is the koku nagula (Plate No. 3), 

 which is used for muddy land. It does not run so smoothly as 

 the badavata nagula, and is liable to stick in the ground. Turned 

 over sideways, it is sometimes used as a mud-leveller, the culti- 

 vator standing on the flat part and holding on by a stick tied to 

 the handle. 



The ploughs used by the Sinhalese of the Western Province 

 are something like the koku nagula in shape, but generally 

 smaller and lighter. There are two patterns in use in the 

 Western Province (Plates Nos. 4 and 5), known as the tani-hede 

 nagula ("single-shaped plough"), and the heda-deke nagula 

 ("plough of two shapes"). The only difference between them 

 is in the shape of the front of the vakatta, and consequently 

 of the iron coulter or share with which it is faced. In the 

 heda-deke nagula this, instead of being straight projects half- 

 way down in a curve, to prevent its sinking too deep in 

 the soil. It is, I suppose, on account of this division as it were 

 of the share into two parts, that the plough is known by the 

 curious name " the plough of two shapes." This plough is used 

 more especially for owita land, and in kekulan cultivation. 



In the low-country plough the koravakkote is now generally 

 dispensed with, and the shaft rests on the vakatta, which is faced 



