No. 40—1890.] account of ceylon. 



347 



and well-behaved. They refrain from drink in presence of 

 the people, and wash frequently. Many of them have by 

 God's grace been converted to Christendom. The others 

 follow the laws of Pythagoras; they are found to be 

 fond of good living, and exceedingly lascivious. How- 

 ever, they are considered the most intelligent and desirous 

 to learn. 



All these heathen are very superstitious. They are fond 

 of idolatry and devil worship. They are particular in 

 choosing the day to begin a given undertaking, believing in 

 good and bad omens. The strictest of their caste are for- 

 bidden to kill anything that has life, above all buffaloes and 

 cows ; not that they have any feeling for these beasts, but 

 because they plough and thresh for them, and yield butter 

 and milk. Moreover, they believe firmly that the souls of 

 their ancestors and friends who are dead have migrated into 

 cows, oxen, buffaloes, and the like, and they would not like 

 to disturb or hurt them. 



They highly esteem an idol, whom they call Jacka* and 

 which is made of clay, of the size of a man, with horns, 

 black and ugly. Some worship elephant heads made of 

 wood or clay,f in hopes of thus obtaining wisdom and 

 knowledge. 



Many rich pagodas are to be seen in the Island of 

 Ceilon, to the most important of which pilgrimages are made 

 by the superstitious. 



The great in the land visit as devout pilgrims one of the 

 highest mountains of Geilon. I have seen this mountain 

 from a distance ; the natives call it Pico d'Adam, or the 

 " Mount of Adam," as Adam, so the Cingalese believe, once 

 lived there. Others say that Paradise is there, and travel 

 thither as pilgrims. On the summit, high as heaven, a 

 pagoda with constantly burning lamps is said to be seen ; 

 likewise a stone, in which the size of Adam's foot has 



* Yaka. — D. W. F. 



f Images of Ganesha or Pullayaru. — B., Hon. Sec. 



8—93 



D 



