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



conclusions. Their madu were then brought and similarly arranged 

 over those of the Yatipila. Next the Udupila horn itself was carried 

 in semi-procession from their own mal-pela — the more zealous of the 

 party adoring it en route — and inserted through the madu across the 

 Yatipila horn at right-angles. 



Yatipila having won at the last two Epulis 1 ' the Udupila side was 

 allowed on this occasion an andara horn as against one of tar ana, a 

 supposed weaker wood. Throughout the whole process of arranging 

 the madu and the horns, only eighteen men were permitted to take 

 part — eight of Udupila, ten of Yatipila. 



Immediately the horns were fairly hooked together a mighty struggle 

 ensued between the eighteen champions in their endeavour to twist 

 their own madu more quickly and tightly than their opponents. Here 

 and there the seething mass of men was borne writhing and swaying. 



" They tug, they strain ! down, down, they go !" 

 till the sweat poured down apace, and utterly exhausted, both parties 

 mutually agreed to say " Hold, enough" — but not until many a flesh- 

 wound had been gained in the senseless " scrimmage." 



As neither horn had snapped in this preliminary trial of strength, 

 ' they were brought to the Yatipila tree ( an-gaha ), and the Yatipila madu 

 bound to the creeper noose (peressa ) which encircled the trunk near 

 the bottom, The Jienakanda, or Ddupila stump, was then swung over 

 in its narrow pit so as to approach the Yatipila tree as closely as possible ; 

 and when about two yards off to its peressa, or double-link noose, was joined 

 the Udupila madu. All being now ready for the real tug, the henakanda 

 was slowly pushed over to the further end of the pit, thus effectually 

 tightening up the nooses, madu and horns, between the an-gaha and 

 waligaha. Thereupon all present, irrespective of party, seized the 

 rope attached to the other side of the henakanda, dragging it towards 

 them by repeated jerks,* leaving only the eighteen picked men to steady 

 the horns, one of the Udupila champions standing on the Yatipila socket 

 and keeping the Udupila socket perpendicular. Sometimes days 

 elapse before either horn snaps — occasionally they cannot be broken 

 at all. In this instance the ominous click was beard within ten 

 minutes of the " pulling." The horns were at once unloosed, and the 

 andara, or Udupila horn, found to be broken. A scene followed baffling 

 description. The victorious Yatipila party rushed madly about, 

 shouting for joy, and shaking the broken pieces of the horn in the 

 faces of their humbled opponents— looking in the growing darkness 

 like veritable demons, as they dashed wildly from place to place. The 

 triumphant horn itself was carried by a few of its admirers thrice 

 round the maduwa, where the Kapurala recited further incantations. 



* The noise of the henakanda striking the end of the pit in each pull 

 or jerk is called walivetenavd, and may be heard at a great distance. 



