No. 24,-1881.] 



SINHALESE OMENS. 



161 



the approach to Kandy of the British troops, had to abandon 

 his throne and kingdom and betake himself to the jungles, 

 where he was captured with his wives, and subsequently tran- 

 sported. 



This belief in omens being identified with domestic life and 

 shared alike by the high and low, is deeply rooted in the native 

 mind, and although the benefits of education and civilization 

 are (aided by the strenuous efforts of the Missionaries) enlight- 

 ening the masses, it will be long before these superstitions cease 

 to exercise powerful influence over the every-day life of the 

 Sinhalese.* 



* " They are very superstitious in making observations of any little 

 accidents as Omens portending good to them or evil. Sneezing they 

 reckon to import evil. So that if any chance to sneeze when he is going 

 about his business, he will stop, accounting he shall have ill success if he 

 proceeds. And none may sneeze, cough, nor spit in the King's presence, 

 either because of the ill-boding of those actions, or the rudeness of them, 

 or both. There is a little creature much like a lizard which they look 

 upon altogether as a prophet, whatsoever work or business they are going 

 about; if he cries, they will cease for a space, reckoning that he tells them 

 there is a bad planet rules at that instant. They take great notice in a 

 morning at their first going out, who first appears in their sight : and if 

 they see a white man, or a big-bellied woman, they hold it fortunate: and to 

 see any decrepit or deformed people as unfortunate." (Knox," An Historical 

 Relation of Ceylon, &c.,"p. 64, London, 1681. See, too, Selkirk's "Recol- 

 lections of Ceylon," pp. 402-3, 1844, and Archseological Notes (Folk-lore^ 

 omens, SfcJ by M. J. Walhouse in Ind. Ant., Vol, V., p. 21, 1876,),— 

 Hon. Sec. 



18 JUN.1903 



