NO. 42. — 1891.] SINHALESE PLANT LORE. 



139 



He saw that magnificent forest, which was like unto a fair lady whose 

 charming voice was the kohila's music, whose thighs were the golden 

 plantain trees, locks like unto [clusters of] bees, bosoms the golden 

 hansas, soft palms the lotus petals, whose breathing the calm breeze, 

 teeth the jasmine flowers, face the lily, red lips the hem, eyes the blue 

 lotus, and flowing hair the patchouli creeper. 



Another poet, Alagiyawanna, thus compares a woman : — 



Netu muwa kusumudula 



Karadara sarana nava dala 



Puntana amapala 



Epuraliya kapliyan ekatula. 

 The women of that royal town were like " the wishing tree," 

 Their mouths and eyes, its blossomed flowers, right beautiful to see; 

 Palms, lips, and feet were like the leaves beside the tender shoots, 

 Their full-orbed bosoms like that tree's ambrosial precious fruits. — 



Steele. 



The above two characteristic verses will convey an idea 

 of the methods by which the Sinhalese poets made their 

 comparisons from plants. There are numerous instances 

 where they describe each personal charm and compare it to 

 some well-known plant, but in the verses quoted such 

 comparisons are brought together in a small compass. 



VI.— Plants in Riddles. 

 There is many a riddle both in verse and prose current 

 among the villagers which has for its meaning a tree or a 

 part of it. The trees which are generally put into riddles are 

 common, either by being used as food or widely met with. I 

 give here some of the more prominent ones which I have 

 been able to gather : — 



Apegedara wetamulle raneya 

 Monarasema pilvidahaganeya 

 Kukulasema teleti karamoleya 

 Toranyalu nalale estuneya. 



