428 ' JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII.. 
The chief kapurdla above-mentioned alone seemed as if he 
felt pain, but no one seemed the worse after the performance 
was over ; even the chief kajmrdla set off at once, carrying 
a heavy load and walked seven miles without inconvenience. 
A.f terwards a kalagediya of water, its mouth tied over with 
a leaf, is inverted in the ashes, and after the kapurdla has 
attended to the altars and packed up the dbarana the 
ceremony is over at about 7 A.M. 
So far as I am aware no treatment was given to the fire- 
walkers' feet beforehand ; however, this could have been 
done, as I did not watch the proceedings right through. The 
dancers themselves state that they are protected by man- 
trams ; it is, however, more or less generally supposed that 
some sort of "medicine" is used. Iron smelters in a similar 
way have a custom of jumping on the red hot iron when it 
is made ; this was done before Mr. im Thurn a few years ago 
at Balangoda. I must say the fire-walking was not a very 
alarming performance, and it seemed to be possible that 
well hardened feet would not in any ease suflEer much by it. 
Several of the men started oflE immediately for a ceremony 
in another village. I regret that I am unable to give a 
more detailed and particular account of the whole per- 
formance, with the words of the songs. 
In conclusion, I wish to thank Mr. J. D. Abegoonewardene, 
Court Mudaliyar at Ratnapura, for his invaluable help in 
Englishing the Sinhalese. One other point I should like to 
say a word about, viz., that all of the eight Papers referred 
to above as dealing with the present subject have been 
written by foreigners, for whom such investigations must 
always be difficult and laborious. It is surprising that no 
Ceylonese has cared to take up these studies, and publish 
some account of the many interesting customs Avhich are 
now dying out in the more civilized districts. The collec- 
tion of agricultural, religious, and other songs, with the airs 
to which they are sung, is particularly needed ; if their study 
is too long neglected, they will be sought in vain when 
interest in such matters is at last awakened, as is bound to 
happen sooner or later. 
