344 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. IX. 



cultivate no kind of grain, and make nothing but their bows 

 and arrows. The iron heads of the latter and their axes they 

 obtain in the following manner : — They carry a quantity of 

 dried flesh and honey to a place near the residence of a Sin- 

 halese blacksmith, and hang it up on a tree out of the reach 

 of dogs and jackals, together with a leaf cut in the shape of 

 the iron article they want. The smith fails not to accept the 

 offer thus made to him, and in due time hangs up in the 

 same place the article required in return. It is understood 

 were he to fail in doing so, that he would be exposed to the 

 most dreadful vengeance of the Vedda and his friends." 



It is the general belief that the hill Veddas are extremely 

 tenacious of the chastity of their wives. They are conse- 

 quently apt to be jealous, and instances are not wanting of 

 their sacrificing to their revenge both the wife and the 

 supposed paramour ; but all speak in high terms of their 

 kind treatment of their wives, and of the fidelity of the latter 

 to their husbands. 



The hill Veddas living along the frontiers of the Kandyan 

 and Maritime Provinces never acknowledged by tribute 

 either the Dutch, British, or Kandyan Governments ; but 

 those towards Horabora in Bintenna paid a tribute of flesh 

 and honey at three different seasons of the year to the royal 

 stores at Kandy. This they of their own accord, at the 

 proper time, hung upon a tree, and it was brought from thence 

 by the Veddds of Horabora, as has already been noticed. 

 The officer whose duty it was to collect the tribute never 

 had any personal communication with the hill Veddas, and 

 having no control over them he could not have enforced the 

 payment had it been withheld. There was, however, no 

 known instance of their ever having failed to pay in due time. 



They never commit depredations upon the crops or pro- 

 perty of any kind belonging to their civilised neighbours, 



* This custom has fallen into disuse. 



