No. 29.— 1884.] 



AN-KELIYA. 



371 



horn six inches in girth would require a support of seven 

 or eight feet long, and about one and a-half feet round. 

 These supports are called an-mola, and the process of trying 

 on the horn is always performed by an expert, and is one 

 which requires the greatest care. The thicker end of the horn 

 • is tied to the an-mola with ropes made out of the belipattd* 

 tree, and the ropes must be arranged so as not to let the 

 horn slip during the tag, for no re-arrangment is afterwards 

 allowed. The position, too, in which the horns are tied to the 

 an-mol is of paramount importance, for, as the whole strain 

 is to fall on the horn, the position and manner in which it 

 is attached to its support must necessarily add to or decrease 

 its power of bearing the strain. The an-mol are cut away a 

 little so as to allow the opposing horn and an-mola to fit 

 closely to each other in the contest, f 



The only other requisites are two coils of rope containing 

 a specified number of coils, with a stick attached in such a 

 way as to admit of its twisting the coils tightly when 

 necessary. These are called the wdram and their size and 

 strength depend on those of the horns. 



When all is ready the an-mol and the wdram are carried 

 in a procession to the an-pitiya, the captain (wattddiya) 

 of each side bearing the an-mol. At the an-pitiya they 

 are put on the platform in the sheds (an-madu) prepared 

 for them where they are sprinkled with scented 

 water, and some rosin is burnt under them. They are 

 then taken to the an-gaka, and the horns are carefully 

 measured against each other. They must be as nearly as 

 possible of the same size, or the game will be postponed 

 until two of equal size are produced. The Kapurala, or 

 minister of Pattini, is then called in, and he invokes the 

 aid of the goddess. During the invocation the captains 

 take the horns round the an-gaka followed by the Kapurala, 



* Hibiscus tiliaceus. 



f See Plate: a b are Udupila and Yatipila wooden "horns"; c c, 

 madu, attached to sticks ( riti) ; d e, elk " horns." 



