No. 24.— 1881.] VEDDi SONGS, ETC. 115 



and the shade of their grandmother. They also propitiate Mahd- 

 yakinni, who appears rather an evil personage. It is to her that 

 they offer a garland of flowers. They describe her as a 'foreigner* 

 and say that they know nothing about her, but acquired their awe of 

 her from the Sinhalese. 



" The Vedi-yahd is known to the Sinhalese ; hunters offer 

 flowers, blood, and burnt meat to this spirit, before hunting, to 

 secure their success. U'napdna-yakd is known to the Sinhalese of 

 the Vedirata, but I do not think he is generally known to the 

 Sinhalese. 



" They believe in the efficacy of what are called devil-dancers, but 

 are ignorant of the art of a Kattddiya, or devil-dancer." — J, B. 



