NO. 62. — 1909.] KANDYAN NAV AND ANNO. 



223 



II. — KOTTAL-BADDA, OR ARTIFICERS' 

 DEPARTMENT. 



Certain smiths were organized in each district of the Kan- 

 dyan kingdom as a department known by the name of 

 Kottal-badda. 



There were two main departments, the heads of which were 

 appointed by the king and known respectively as Uda-rata 

 Kottal-badde Nilame and Pdta-rata Kottal-badde Nilame. The 

 latter title was held simultaneously by the Disawas of the Four 

 and of the Seven Korales, and occasionally by the Disawa 

 Sabaragamuwa. Thus Pilima Talawuwe who was then Disawa 

 of the two former Provinces, describes himself in 1793 a.d., 

 as holding " the two Pata-ra^a Kottal-badu." 



There were separate Kottal-badu for Matale and Uva, and 

 in general in the Disawanies the Kottal-badda was usually 

 conferred on the Disawa, who Appointed a Kottal-badde Viddne, 

 sometimes a Smith and sometimes a Vellala. 



The Kottal-badde smiths performed work for any building 

 allotted to the Disawany. Those of the Four and of the Seven 

 Korales had to do any work whatsoever, equally with the 

 Kottal-badda of the districts within the mountains.* 



The Kottal-badda of the Four Korales was typical of the 

 rest. It consisted of the following artificers : — 



" (1) Seven Waduwo or carpenters (under the orders of a 

 headman called Muldchdriyd {e.g., Liyana-wadu Muldchdriyd, 

 Hittara Muldchdriyd) , appointed by the king upon the Disava's 

 recommendation), who perform all carpentry work for the 

 King or Disava. They are usually employed at the Dandu- 

 maduwa in Kandy. 



" (2) Five Liyana-waduwo , or turners. 



" (3) Five Hittaru or painters. 



" (4) Fourteen l-waduwo, or arrow makers, under a head- 

 man called Hangidiyd. They manufacture and paint bows, 

 arrows, spears, shafts, banner-staves, and walking-sticks, 

 and two of them perform service in the Ran-dwuda mandape. 



* D'Oyly. 



