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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIII. 



felicitas of language which. I have always admired. Take 



this passage on the talipot tree : — 



It is as big and tall as a Ship's Mast and very streight, bearing only 

 Leaves : which are of great use and benefit to this People ; one single 

 Leaf being so broad and large that it will cover some fifteen or twenty 

 men, and keep them dry when it rains. The leaf being dryed is very 

 strong and limber, and most wonderfully made for men's Convenience to 

 carry along with them ; for tho' this leaf be thus broad when it is 

 open, yet it will fold close like & Ladies 1 fan, and then it is no bigger 

 than a man's arm. It is wonderful light, they cut them into pieces and 

 carry them in their hands. The whole leaf spread is round, almost like 

 a Circle, but being cut in pieces for use are near like unto a Triangle. 

 They lay them upon their heads as they travel, with the peaked end 

 foremost, which is convenient to make their way through the Boughs 

 and Thickets. When the Sun is vehement hot they use them to shade 

 themselves from the heat. Soldiers all carry them ; for besides the 

 benefit of keeping them dry in case it rain upon the march, these 

 leaves make their Tents to ly under in the Night. A marvelous 

 Mercy which A Imighty God hath bestowed upon this poor and naked 

 People in this Rainy Country ! One of these I brought with me into 

 England and you have it described in the Figure. 



I venture to say that no one could better this description. 



Again, take this account of the Tcabaragoyd* — 



There is a Creature here called Kohbera guion, resembling an Alligator. 

 The biggest may be five or six foot long, speckled black and white. 

 He lives most upon the Land, but will take the water and dive under 

 it : hath a long blew forked tongue like a sting, which he puts forth 

 and hisseth and gapeth, but doth not bite nor sting, tho' the appear- 

 ance of him would scare those that knew not what he was. He is not 

 afraid of people, but will ly gaping and hissing at them in the way, and 

 will scarce stir out of it. He will come and eat Carrion with the Dogs and 

 Jackals and will not be scared away by them, but if they come near to 

 bark or snap at him, with his tayl, which is about an Ell long like a 

 whip, he will so slash them, that they will run away and howl. 



This is true to the life and most graphic. Or take this of 

 the Sinhalese : — 



At their leisure when their affairs will permit they commonly meet 

 at places built for strangers and way-faring men to lodge in, in their 

 language called amblamb, where they sit chewing betel and looking 

 one upon the other very gravely and solidly. 



Or this of their paddy fields : — 



* Uydrosaurus salrator (order Saurea). — B., Hon. Sec. 



