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



stumps, and inside it is erected upside down a log of a 

 cocoannt tree, about 24 feet long,' with the roots shaved so 

 as to have a heavy top. The post is called the henakanda 

 or the waligaka* The hole at its base is large enough to 

 allow of the post having a considerable amount of " play " 

 backwards and forwards, and the heavy top is to add to the 

 leverage and the strain, as will be described hereafter, on the 

 horns. As in the case of the an-gaka, strong bands of creepers 

 are coiled loosely round the base, a short distance above the 

 level of the ground, and two long and strong ropes or jungle 

 creepers are tied to the top ; these ropes are called waliwel, 

 and are intended to be held by the persons taking part in 

 the game, about fifteen yards off. On opposite sides of 

 the an-gaha two sheds are put up to keep the horns, with a 

 platform erected in each. 



In some places deer horns are used. The brow antler is 

 shortened to about two inches, and the branch to about six, 

 and at the end of the latter a strong piece of wood is tied 

 crosswise. Two of these of equal size are a pair, and are 

 fitted against each other in the game. Horns such as 

 these are, however, only used when the game is played on a 

 small scale, and more for amusement than as a religious 

 ceremony, or where the root horns are not procurable. There 

 is not so much detail in this description of the game, and 

 certainly nothing like the enthusiasm in it that an-keliya 

 proper calls forth. In an-keliya proper many kinds of 

 roots are in use, the most important being those of the 

 andara* petan,"\ and etteriyaX trees. The greatest care is 

 taken in selecting and preparing these, for the slightest 

 flaw or split in the horn would seal its fate in the game. 

 The Yatipila, or "under-side," horns must be curved, though 

 not to such a sharp angle as a deer horn, while the Udu- 

 pila, or " upper-side," horns are nearly straight. When 

 required for use they are tied to the centre of long and 

 stout pieces of wood prepared for the purpose, the length 

 and girth of which depend on the size of the horns, though a 



* Dichrostachys cinerea. f Bauhinia tomentosa. | Murraya exotica. 



