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



The services of the astrologer, exorcist, and tutor are also 

 sought for just in the same way. 



When the help of the carpenter is required for making a 

 piece of furniture or doing carpentry to a house, the Kandyan 

 goes in search of a good one. The carpenter must be fed by 

 him so long as the work lasts. No fee should be paid, even 

 after the work is finished ; but it is customary to give presents 

 and rewards in the shape of money, according to the means 

 of the employer. In addition, some give a suit of clothes 

 bought or made for the purpose. 



When a ryot runs short of some implement, such as a 

 plough, a mamoty (kind of hoe), ketta (kind of bill-hook), a 

 sickle, or knife, he does not buy it. If he is in want of a 

 plough, he gets one made by a native ploughwright, rendering 

 him a little help. If he is in want of a mamoty, he gets it 

 made by a blacksmith for a small consideration or by helping 

 him in some other way. The same method is adopted in 

 procuring other implements. There are castes who are almost 

 bound by social laws to supply others periodically with 

 implements of cultivation, pottery, chunam (lime), ropes, 

 mats, &c. Such people must be given paddy or money, 

 either half-yearly or annually ; but if given lands for cultiva- 

 tion (to pay back in kind) , neither paddy nor money need be 

 given back. 



When a Kandyan's land is to be ploughed, no more expenses 

 are necessary than feeding the ploughman, whether he has 

 buffaloes or not. If he is in want of eight buffaloes or more, 

 he need not hire them. If he has got one buffalo, it is easy 

 to get his land ploughed by ten yoke. A few days before 

 ploughing he has to go to such of his neighbours as have 

 oxen, and ascertain from them whether they will be able to 

 lend their oxen for use that day. He is then sure of getting 

 them, provided they have not been promised to others. 

 When he has borrowed the services of his neighbour's oxen, 

 he should in turn lend his. If he gets certain work done by 

 his neighbour in his field, he must return the like to him. 

 If he gets his field reaped, say by ten men, he himself should 

 work for them in his turn. Hena work (cultivation of grain 

 grown on dry land) , which is distinct from the cultivation of 



