NO. 61. — 1908.] SUMPTUARY LAWS OF THE KANDYANS. 119 



SUMPTUARY LAWS AND SOCIAL ETIQUETTE OF 

 THE KANDYANS. 



By T. B. Parnatella. 



The Kandyans had been under their native kings until 

 they became the subjects of the English Crown in 1815. 

 Since the time they began to associate with the English they 

 have been gradually changing their customs and habits. But 

 there are still many among them who adhere to their old 

 sumptuary laws and customs. 



Even the rich have had from time immemorial an aversion 

 to unnecessary expenditure. Most of the people do not go 

 beyond limits, except those who have been educated in the 

 English style. Though a Kandyan may have plenty of paddy 

 fields, money, oxen, buffaloes, &c, when he goes on a journey 

 he does not make use of a carriage or a horse. According to 

 his way of thinking such expenditure is unnecessary. He 

 thinks he should not incur expense by employing a carriage 

 for a journey which he can accomplish on foot. He does not 

 spend a cent for a journey which occupies him a day or a 

 day and a half. This economy he effects by travelling the 

 whole way on foot, taking from home a hat-gediya (rice 

 wrapped in a whorl of the arecanut palm) for his meals on 

 his journey. 



The staple food of the Kandyans consists of rice and 

 vegetables. To eat meat and fish is unusual. Neither meat, 

 fresh fish, nor dried fish will be bought, except for an import- 

 ant feast. 



The outlay for clothes is also limited. One should have for 

 outdoor wear only two cloths and a handkerchief, and for 

 home wear two more cloths and an additional handkerchief. 

 Round the waist, the Sinhalese wrap a cloth, which hangs 

 loose and forms the covering for the lower part of the body 



