No. 5.-1850.] 



THE ELU LANGUAGE. 



261 



Sinhalese or Elu works are few in number ; and this 

 arises from the grievous loss which they have sustained 

 from the invasions of this Island by the Malabars, and from 

 the general destruction of literary records during several 

 reigns. At least, it is difficult to account for the share of 

 civilisation possessed by the Sinhalese prior to the age 

 of Vidagama and Totagamuwa, much less for the great 

 talent and learned research displayed by those literati, without 

 supposing that many valuable manuscripts which once 

 existed are now lost. But, however few their works, the 

 Sinhalese have sufficient to prove that they do not deserve 

 to be disparagingly spoken of by Europeans — the majority 

 of whom, whatever may be said of their superior powers 

 of intellect, can never appreciate those beauties of native 

 style which one thoroughly acquainted with the native 

 idiom, the genius of the language, and the religion of the 

 Sinhalese, finds in the Elu works. The Sinhalese scholar 

 finds, indeed, in the writings of his country's poets the 

 unmatched sublimity of a Milton, the flowing gracefulness 

 of a Pope, and the sparkling wit of a Goldsmith. Of course 

 the English reader must understand the comparison here 

 instituted with reference to the idiom of expression and 

 the genius of the language, the habits of nationality, and the 

 peculiarities of the religion of each class of writers. 

 Perhaps it is difficult for an European, accustomed from 

 his infancy to the peculiar expressions of his language, 

 the numbers of his poetry, and the national and religious 

 feelings which they convey (all which dispose his ear and 

 bias his judgment to give preference to his own language), 

 to understand what is here attempted to be shown — the 

 existence in the Sinhalese of works which may be compared 

 to those of England, from the sameness of the effect which 

 they severally produce upon the minds of the two classes of 

 readers. Perhaps also, for the same reason, a native is 



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