Live Stock. 407 [Nov, 1906. 



The Crushing of Cattle by the Kandyans. 



By T. B. Pohath-Kehelpanala. 

 The art of crushing or "mulling" cattle as practised by the Kandyans dates 

 from very ancient times. The operation is performed when the animal has reached 

 its prime. This period of its life is known as " Karanegima" literally the age at 

 which the neck gets fat and fleshy ; it is at this stage that the animal becomes 

 inflamed with passion. 



The action of crushing called " Karabima " or " Vedakan Kerima " is per- 

 formed by a skilled operator with the help of a trained assistant. It is never 

 performed on a buffalo bull before it reaches its fifth or sixth year, nor is it under- 

 taken before the animal has been used for ploughing. Unless the animal is 

 subjected to this ordeal during the fattening period, it invariably becomes weak and 

 emaciated, and utterly unfit for work ; while in some cases, the effects are fatal. The 

 act of wasting flesh and reducing the animal to leanness, is described by the 

 Kandyans as " Telendirima." 



A lucky day is chosen for the operation. The month of II (November) is 

 considered a favourable period. This is the holiday season for the Kandyan agri- 

 culturist : there is abundance of fodder to be had everywhere, and the animals have 

 no work before them until the harvesting season in March and April. 



Punctual to the appointed hour, a pair of well-seasoned rounded bars of the 

 Kitul (Cari/ota urens) or Kohomba,* like rulers, aboitt H cubits long, are laid on a 

 " MalbuLat-Tattmva" — an ornamental betel tray — and are fumigated with resin. 

 The wooden bars are tightly bound together at one end with kitul fibre. A vessel 

 filled with saffron-water is placed close by. The animal has to have its legs bound, is 

 thrown over on its side, and held securely to prevent its struggling. 



After making a supplication to the presiding deities, the wooden barst are 

 placed on each side of the testicles and are firmly pressed together until the glands 

 get entirely crushed. As a general rule, a very small portion is left unsqueezed, with 

 the object of maintaining the health and vigour of the animal, but in the case of a 

 buffalo that is exceptionally savage, the glands are completely crushed. The 

 operator is known to possess a secret method of applying pressure, by which he is 

 able to reduce the glands to varying degrees of pulpiness or consistency, so as to 

 leave the animal after the operation, thoroughly docile, a strong worker, or with a 

 certain amount of temper. The crushing is always attended with successful results. 

 It restores healthful functions to the body and animals improve in strength and 

 endurance. 



When the operation is finished, saffron-water is sprinkled over the animal, 

 and with a red-hot iron some parallel or ornamental lines are branded on the loins, 

 flanks or tail. This is supposed to invigorate the animal and to counteract disease 



As a result of the operation, severe inflamation, of course, sets in, and the 

 animal suffers from pain, fever and exhaustion. For about a fortnight, it must be 

 kept in a shed protected from cold, and very carefully looked after, lest, followed 

 by the smell, crows, flies, and Kabaraguyasj— especially the latter, who, attracted by 

 the scent, travel from distances— should attack and prey upon the inflamed parts. 

 Burnt domba (Calophyllum Inophyllum) ground with Kekuna (Canarium 

 Zeylanicum) oil into a paste are generally rubbed over the swollen glands to allay 

 the pain and reduce the inflammation. Sometimes, previous to the operation, the 

 leaves of the Pennela (Sapuidus emarginatus) turmeric, and the tubers of the 

 Haran-kaha\\ are pounded to a pulp and smeared over the parts. 



* Azadirachta indica. tUallod Poluassa by the Kandyans. :|:(Varanus Salvator.) || Curcuma longa. 



