iB3 Manners and Customs of the Ceylonese. 
romandel or Malabar coasts ; and this is in fact the received 
opinion among most people. Some circumstances however seem 
to indicate that they have come from a greater distance; their 
complexion, features, language and manners are so similar to 
those of the Maldivians, that I should for my own part be apt 
to conclude that both were of the same stock. The Maidive 
islands are only two or three days’ sail from Ceylon ; and from 
the dissimilarity of the habits found among them to those of 
the Indians on the continent, it might be argued that the na- 
tives of these islands have not directly originated from those of 
Hindostan. 
The Ceylonese are of a middling stature, about five feet 
eight, and fairer in complexion than the Moors and Malabars 
of the continent. They are however at the same time neither 
so well made nor so strong. I know no race they resemble so 
much in appearance as the Maldivians. The Candians are both 
fairer, better made, and less efteminate than the Cinglese in our 
service. 
The women are not so tall in proportion as the men ; they 
are much fairer, and approach to a yellow or mulatto colour. 
They continually anoint their bodies with cocoa-nut oil; and 
in particular always keep their hair moist with it. Both sexes 
are remarkably clean and neat both in their persons and houses. 
In dressing their victuals they are scrupulously nice. They are 
cautious not even to touch the vessel out of which they drink 
with their lips ; but (what would seem a very aukward method 
to an European) they hold the vessel at some distance over 
their heads, and literally pour the drink down their throats. 
It is perhaps from the fear of not doing it with sufficient dex- 
terity that they never use their left hand in preparing their 
