197 
Manners and Customs of the Ceylonese. 
interference of the priest, or any further ceremony ; and no 
disgrace attaches on the occasion to either party, but the wo- 
man is quite as much esteemed by her next lover as if he iiad 
found her in a state of virginity. 
After the parties have agreed to marry, the first step is, that 
the man present his bride with the wedding-clothes, which in- 
deed are not of the most costly kind : tiiey consist of a piece 
of cloth, six or seven yards in length, for the use of the bride,, 
and another piece of clotli to be placed on tlie bed. It 
gives us a striking idea of the total want of industry among 
the Ceylonese, and their extreme state of poverty, that even 
these simple marriage presents are frequently beyond the abi- 
lity of the man to purchase, and that he is often obliged 
to borrow them for the occasion from some of his neiah- 
O 
bours. 
The wedding presents are presented by the bridegroom in 
person, and the following night he is entitled to lie with the 
bride. Upon this occasion is appointed the day for bringing 
her home, and celebrating the wedding with festivities. On 
that day he and his relations repair to the bride’s house car- 
rying along with them what they are able to contribute to the 
marriage -feast. The bride and bridegroom, in the presence of 
this assembly, eat out of one dish to denote that they are of 
the same rank. Their thumbs are then tied together ; and tiic 
ceremony concludes by the nearest relations, or the priest, when 
he is present, cutting them asunder. This however, is account- 
ed a less binding ceremony, and indeed scarcely intended for 
continuance. When it is desired to make the marriage as firm 
and indissoluble as the nature of their manners will allow, 
the parties are joined together with a long piece of cloth, winch 
