No. 36.— 1888.] 



CAPTAIN JOAO HTBEIRO. 



285 



not, are greater sorcerers than the others, since they have to 

 have a hand in the matter before they are capacitated for one 

 thing or another : these they always consult when making 

 journeys and have an omen for anything ; the hour in which 

 it is necessary to enter on a war, fight a battle, sow the field, 

 get married, or any other business, all is done by their advice. 

 These Nangatas are of a low caste corresponding to our 

 drummers." In place of this LeG. has the following : — 

 " Many other instances of their superstitions are related ; but 

 that which is universal is, that they have many Astrologers 

 whom they call Nagatas, and that they undertake no 

 business without consulting them. It is true that these 

 Nagatas, who in origin are poor wretches and of the vilest 

 condition among these people, do sometimes make predictions 

 that astonish one, when one sees, contrary to all hope, what 

 they predicted occur ; so that it is difficult to believe that 

 there is not some pact with the Devil, and in fact something 

 supernatural about the affair." It is remarkable that in 

 this passage B. (followed by LeG.) has a better reading 

 ("Nagatas") than L.A. {"Nangatas"). Lee has the 

 following note to this word : — " The Singalese word for 

 an Astrologer is (^d)^G3d£)333dcD3 (Giotisastrtkaria), and 

 of an Astronomer soesfeaexsjaaadcM (Naksastrikaria). The 

 word in the text is unknown." This is a surprising 

 statement. Of course " nagata" represents the Sinhalese 

 nakat or nekata. 



Chapter XVI. — In speaking of the caste system Ribeiro 

 tells us that " cartas" are fishermen, " mainatos" washermen, 

 and "pachas" sandal-makers: this LeG. omits. Ribeiro 

 says of the Sinhalese :— " All these people are of the colour 

 of a quince, some darker than others, the hair in the Nazarene 

 fashion, the beard wide, in the ancient Portuguese style ; of 

 a pleasant countenance, and not differing from the people of 

 Spain," &c. In place of the last words ("da gente de 

 Hespanha") B. has "from our Portuguese" (" dos nossos 

 Portuguezes "), while LeG. renders the passage as follows : — 

 " All the men are swarthy, or rather of a colour approaching; 



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