No. 24. — 1881.] SINHALESE KALAWA. 89 



Visa-kalcbva, ^02^(538, I would translate as 'the baneful 

 (literally, ( poisonous') kaldrca? It will be seen in the Table 

 taken from the Lakrvclklrana Sheet Almanac that the Visa- 

 kaldwa is said to ascend on the left side in males, and on the 

 right in females. This Table and that from the Lita or 

 Ephemeris for the year give both the Vlsa-kaldwa and Amrita- 

 kalcuva, which I have not obtained from other sources. There 

 can be no doubt that the Mul-kalawa, commonly spoken of, is 

 the same as the Amrita-kalawa. The Sinhalese Lita (page 

 50) advises that if the A mrita-kaldwa locates itself in any part 

 of the body, care should be taken of it, as '"life" then chiefly 

 exists in it. In the case of Vlsa-kalama it is asserted that 

 any wound or hurt to the part where it is located will bring 

 calamity or death. The distinction of effect is not very clear, 

 except that a hurt in the latter case appears to be considered 

 as more directly baneful. The only explanations remaining to 

 be made are : first, that when the kaldwa is in the arm- 

 pit or shoulder, the whole arm and hand are involved ; and 

 secondly, that the Amrita-haldwa moves at a certain distance 

 from the Visa-kaldwa. 



