No. 43. — 1892.] WEIGHTS AND measures. 



193 



agros) a fight may ensue. Bystanders have described such 

 a combat to me as lasting de-husma, 6 two breathings,' which 

 may be idiomatically rendered 4 two rounds.' This is 

 delightfully graphic." 



The time of sunset is fairly regular in Ceylon. Ira bahi- 

 nawd, the sun sinks down, plainly describes the apparent 

 phenomenon. This time is also known as hendeiva, hende 

 veldwa, or havas-waruwa. 



Harak dakkana veldwa, the time when cattle are driven 

 home to their pinfolds, is about 5 o'clock, 2^ peyas before 

 nightfall.* 



Miniha penna nepenna veldwa, when a man may or may 

 not be recognised, is dusk, which is also known as tharu 

 pena veldwa, the time when the stars are seen. 



Bimata karuwala vetena veldwa, the time when darkness 

 sets in ; kurullo gas yana veldwa, the time when birds go to 

 roost ; pe tetiya veldwa, alle iri pena nepena veldwa, gas 

 wala neti nepena veldwa, the negative forms of the 

 expressions used to denote the time at dawn. 



" The time when lamps are lit," and " the evening meal " 

 or " supper," are points of time from which the Sinhalese 

 reckon backwards and forwards in peyas. 



"The time when a man wakens after his first sleep," 

 nindak budiyald eha eruna — generally two peyas — is rather 

 indefinite, varying with the habits of the sleeper, but it is a 

 common expression.! 



And then we come to pahalos-peya, " 15 o'clock," or " mid- 

 night," also known as maha re or maddima re. 



* Sotoo goman helina velava (Orientalist, vol. III., p. 100). — B., Hon. Sec, 

 f Cf. " Nyanza," cried the native boy, li Nyanza ? Ay, the Nyanza lies 

 this way" (pointing east) " and extends ithat way " (north-east) " a long 

 distance "; and when asked how many " sleeps " intervened between the 

 Babusesse, held up three fingers on his dexter hand, and answered " three.'* 

 (Stanley's In Darkest Africa, Colonial edition, p. 176.) 



