176 Account of the Rodiyas. 



The Rodiyas have their own headmen, called Hulawalias, 

 and under the Kandyan Government the appointment of these 

 headmen was in the patronage of the Koralle of the Pattoo ; 

 but it now rests with the Government Agent for the Province 

 or his Assistants. The Kandyan Government exempted the 

 Rodiyas from all services, except furnishing the royal stores 

 with ropes of hides for ensnaring elephants; but at present 

 they pay the Road Tax in common with the other classes of 

 Her Majesty's subjects. 



Under the Kandyan Government, as the Rodiyas were not 

 permitted to enter the precincts of the Courts, they had their 

 disputes settled by the nearest Durea headman, and if they 

 ever ventured to resort to the Vellala chiefs for justice, they 

 were obliged to utter aloud their complaints, standing at a 

 distance, with uplifted hands, or remaining prostrate on the 

 ground. They have now, however, free access to our tribu- 

 nals, and no distinction is made between them and the Sing- 

 halese high caste men: they are placed at the same bar for 

 trial, and, when sentenced to imprisonment, confined in the 

 same gaol. 



The Rodiyas profess the Buddhist religion, but they are 

 not allowed to enter a temple, and they therefore hear the 

 Bana standing outside the Bana Madduwa* They however, 

 offer up propitiatory sacrifices of fowls and salt fish to the 

 devils, called Garra Yakko and Weddi Yakko, who they 

 believe occasion diseases, and other mischiefs, and they also 

 have recourse to invocations by cutting limes, as practised by 

 the Singhalese, when any member of their families is taken ill. 

 Some years ago a few Rodiyas in the Matelle district were 

 converted by a Baptist Missionary; but I am informed that 

 they have since relapsed into their heathenish practices. 



Amongst the vices ascribed to the Rodiyas, theft is the 

 principal; hence the appearance of a Rodiya in the neighbour- 

 hood of a village, always inspires dread. There is no doubt that 

 the Rodiyas are, generally speaking, thieves, for in their pre- 

 sent abject state, there is nothing to induce them to be honest, 



