348 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XXI. 



through them in the .shape of dowries, and the women do most 

 of the trading also. 



At a meeting of the Village Committee in 1904 one of the 

 members suggested that some rules should be framed to check 

 the spread of toddy-drinking, and the reason he alleged first 

 was that " the women of the place are quite uncontrollable on 

 account of the free use of toddy." But it is stated that the 

 women are more energetic and of more consequence than the 

 men, which perhaps explains this attempt at a crusade against 

 " a monstrous regiment of women." 



Dowries are usually given by word of mouth. Daughters 

 when married are allowed to enjoy the produce of certain 

 lands brought into the common stock by the mother. It is 

 very seldom that daughters get any share of the produce of 

 their father's lands. The sons share it among themselves on 

 the death of the father. A son seldom takes anything when 

 he marries, and does not set up a separate establishment. He 

 lives with his father and works for him, and his wife lives at 

 her parents' house. " The death of the parents of a newly- 

 married couple is generally desired by them." So the Maniyagar 

 remarks. 



Alienation of the right to the produce of lands is by kayi 

 kanakku, " a hand account " (which, of course, does not 

 comply with the requirements of the Ordinance of Frauds and 

 Perjuries). 



In Delft a decree of the District Court is known as a 

 Provintal Urppu. This is a survival from the days when 

 there was a " Provincial court " at Jaffna 5 i.e., from about 

 1807 to 1833. 



Delft is noted for its healthiness and the longevity of its 

 inhabitants. An old man died the other day whose age was 

 stated to be 110. The Registrar- General made inquiries about 

 it, and, the Maniyagar says, was satisfied of the correctness of 

 the figure given. The Maniyagar had just registered (1902) the 

 death of an old man named Peru may inar Visuvanatar, who had 

 been to Colombo with horses in the time of Captain Nolan, and 

 was already married at the time he went ; this must have been 

 at least eighty years ago, as Captain Nolan left the Island in 

 1824.* {See footnote on page 349.) 



