NO. 61. — 1908.] KANDYAN MUSIC. 



131 



by their former lords and patrons, they have in a great 

 measure abandoned their profession and taken to the cultiva- 

 tion of land and other occupations, which, occupying most 

 of their time, would not permit them to improve what they 

 had learnt. After boyhood I do not think any musician now 

 devotes a hundredth part of his time to his studies. 



A few days ago I met a youthful musician, a great-great- 

 grandson of the once famous Malawara Muhandiram of the 

 Kavikdra Maduwa and a grandson of the not less famous Saibo 

 Malawaraya of Alutnuwara Devale, returning home after a 

 day's cooly work on a tea estate ! 



With the extinction of the families of the ancient hereditary 

 chiefs, the withdrawal of the immense power they wielded 

 (which would rob them of their prestige, and consequently their 

 local influence), and the loss of their vast domains whether by 

 alienation or reversion to the Crown, must necessarily disappear 

 not only Kandyan music, but Kandyan craft, sciences, art, 

 manners, customs, habits, rites, and usages; in short, every 

 thing that was, and is, Kandyan. Such a calamity is not far 

 distant. It has been the case in other countries. And it is 

 but natural, for none other than a hereditary chief of those 

 ancient noble families would have that natural interest, that 

 inherent interest, in the preservation of all that is national of 

 himself and his people. 



As regards the origin of Kandyan music little has to be 

 said. It is as old as the Sinhalese language itself. 



The Sinhalese language did not originally borrow its music 

 from any other language or people. Although much has 

 been said on the subject, it is still an open question whether 

 the Sinhalese language is an independent language or whether 

 it is one derived from the Sanskrit. If it is the former, then 

 its music must be as old as that language. If it is a dialect 

 derived from the Sanskrit, then the music must be as old as 

 the Sanskrit language. If it — the Sinhalese language — is 

 purely, or partly, the language spoken by the aborigines of 

 the Island, it is reasonable to suppose that its music is at 

 least 2,500 years old, for we are told in the Mah&wansa that 

 Vijayo on the very day he landed in Ceylon heard songs and 

 music in the city Sirivata. 



