APPENDIX. 489 
they appointed to be their King, saying to him, " Thou art our 
King ; we will give to thee one tenth part of the substance we 
may acquire ; be thou a judge, and a ruler over us." This King 
was called Maha Sammata, a compound word, which signifies a 
great assembly, to indicate that he had been chosen by the consent 
of many people. This King after his election proceeded to divide 
his subjects into the following casts, namely : 
Rajah wansaya, the King's cast, which from that time became 
the chief rulers of the earth. 
Brahmana wansaya, the cast of Brahmins skilled in science. 
Wanija wansaya, the merchants' cast. 
Gowi wansaya, the cast of Gowis to cultivate the ground. 
This last is the cast known in Ceylon by the name of Vellal, 
which however is not a Cingalese word. These Gowis or Vellals are 
of the highest cast on the island, there being none of the three 
superior casts, except the King of Candy, who is of the first. 
The above are the four superior casts. The following casts are 
constituted to serve them. 
Danduwaduyo, wood carpenters. 
Wry anno, weavers. 
Raduda, washermen. 
Aymbayttayo, barbers. 
Hannali, taylors. 
Rata karayo, carriage makers. 
Badalu, workers of metals. 
Malakarayo, planters of flowering shrubs and makers of wreaths 
of flowers. 
Kumbalu, potters. 
VOL. I. 3 R 
