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Religion of the Ceylonese ^ 
CHAPTER IX. 
Religion of the Ceylonese, 
The religion of the Ceylonese is one of the most prominent 
features in a description of them, and mixes with every cir- 
cumstance of their lives and manners. There is no people who 
labour more under the influence of superstitious fears. Omens 
regulate their whole conduct, and even decide upon their des- 
tiny from their birth. When a child is born, the first step is 
to call the astrologer, and enquire of him whether it is destined 
to be fortunate or unfortunate. If the astrologer declares that 
it was born to misfortune, they frequently anticipate its future 
evils by destroying it. On going out in a morning, they anxi- 
ously observe the first object which occurs to them, and ac- 
cording to their opinion of its good or bad luck, they prog- 
nosticate whether the business they go about shall be prosperous 
or unsuccessful. A white man, or a woman with child are 
looked upon as omens particularly fortunate ; but to meet with 
a beggar or a deformed person, they account a grievous mis- 
chance, and will not proceed for that day on their intended 
business if they can avoid it. I have in my moining rides 
seen a string of Cinglese cautiously treading in one another’s 
footsteps, and anxiously expecting, from the omen that should 
occur to the foremost, their good or bad success for that day. 
I, as an European, was always a glad sight to them. 
That excess of trembling superstition, which unhinges the 
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