126 JOURNAL R. A. S. CEYLON* [Vol. VII., Pt. IL 



to the spot. In short, the whole town is awake that night, and 

 presents a scene of bustle and confusion. The slow murmur 

 of human voices rising at times like the waves of the ocean,, 

 and mingling with the clear voices of the ubiquitous sherbert 

 vendor and roasted gram seller — the invariable concomitauts 

 of a Ceylon crowd — renders the scene perfectly picturesque. 

 Moreover a kudu is constructed in honour of this saint. This 

 is a frame-work of bamboo, in the shape of a pagoda, made 

 with a sort of network of paper nicely clipped and pasted on 

 it. It is further ornamented with different kinds of coloured 

 paper, formed into various devices, tinsel fringes, &c. When 

 the whole is lighted up within and without, it has a beautiful 

 appearance. 



The Musalman ship captains and sailors are in the habit 

 of making vows and oblations in the name of this saint; e, g. } 

 when they meet with any misfortune at sea, they vow that 

 should the vessel reach the desired haven in peace, safely with 

 their property and cargo, they will spend a certain sum of 

 money in offering Fdthihah to him.* 



There is a tradition in general reception among the Moors, 

 that in former times the inhabitants of the Maldives were 

 tormented by a demon, to whom they were compelled to sacrifice 

 a female every year; but this saint, a descendant of the prophet, 

 having arrived in the Island, attacked and overcame the demon, 

 and that in return for this service the whole of the inhabitants 



* "Before a voyage is undertaken, an offering is made to some saint for 

 success, and in danger or distress the mariners trust chiefly in the efficacy 

 of vows or offerings to the tombs of some personage (dead or living) 

 eminent for piety. We are informed of large sums given as votive offerings 

 made during boisterous weather to an old priest resident at Calcutta. 

 All moneys paid at Male in fulfilment of such vows go to the priest." 

 (Christopher and Young, Memoir on the Maldive Islanders, Trans. Bombay 

 Geo. Soc. 1836-8, p. 15.)^- Hon, Sec. 



