28 JOURNAL R. A. S. CEYLON. [EXTRA NO, 



had eaten, they ruhbed themselves with sandal. That day I saw 

 upon one of their dishes a fish of the species of sardines, salted 

 and raw, which had been sent as a present from Caoulem, This 

 fish is very abundant on the Malabar Coast. The Vizier took a 

 sardine, and began to eat it, at the same time saying to me, " Eat 

 some of that ; it is not found in our country." I answered, " How 

 can I eat it ? It is not cooked." " It is cooked," said he. But I 

 replied, " I know this fish well, for it abounds in my native land." 



Of my marriage and of my nomination to the 



DIGNITY OF Kkzi. 



On the 10th day of Shawwal I agreed with the Vizier 

 Soule'iman Manage, or Admiral, that I should espouse his daughter, 

 and I sent to request the Vizier Djemdl eddin that the betrothal 

 should take place in his presence at the palace. He agreed and 

 sent betel, according to custom, and sandal. The people were 

 present for the ceremony. The Vizier Soule'iman delayed his 

 coming. He was sent for : and yet he came not. He was sent 

 for a second time, and he excused himself on account of the ill- 

 ness of his daughter: but the Grand Vizier said to me in private, 

 " His daughter refuses to marry ; and she is mistress of her own 

 actions. But see ! the people are assembled : would you like to 

 espouse the step-mother of the Sultana, the widow of her father?" 

 (The Grand Vizier's son was then married to this woman's 

 daughter). I replied "Yes, by all means." He then convoked 

 the Kazi and the notaries. The profession of the Musalman 

 faith was then recited, and the Vizier paid the dowry. After 

 some days my wife was brought to me. She was one of the best 

 women who ever lived. Such was her good manners, that when 

 I became her husband, she anointed me with scented oils and per- 

 fumed my clothes ; during this operation she laughed and allowed 

 nothing disagreeable to be seen. 



When I had married this lady, the Vizier constrained me 

 to accept the functions of the Kazi. The cause of my nomina- 



