217 
Religion of the Ceylonese. 
turbances in his own dominions, and by exciting the people to 
support him in his wars against the Dutch. The followers of 
Buddou believe in the immortality of the soul, and its trans- 
migration into various bodies before it reaches Nimban or the 
region of eternity. 
In such high veneration are the Tiiinanxes held that their 
persons are accounted sacred ; and the King of Candy, absolute 
as he his, has no power to take away their lives or anywise pu- 
nish them even for conspiring against his own life. They chuse 
their own superiors; and their chief priest or archbishop is 
invested with the power of settling ail religious disputes. The 
body of the Tirinanxes are elected by the King from among 
tlie nobles, and they are consequently men possessed of power 
and influence even independent of their sacred character. The 
honours and respect witii which ‘they are every where attend- 
ed shew the strong hold which they have on the minds of 
the people. All ranks bow down before them; when they sit 
down they find their seats covered with a white cloth ; and 
when they walk forth, the broad end of the Talipot leaf is 
borne before them: All these are privileges of the highest kind, 
and shared with them by the monarch only. The Tirinanxes are 
also exempted from ail taxes. They are placed under certain restric- 
tions, and are totally debarred from wine or women. They have 
however an opportunity of escaping from these restraints ; and are 
allowed to lay aside their order when it suits their inclination. 
They never eat meat, or any thing that has had life. To their 
girdles they wear suspended strings of beads made of a brownish 
or black wood; and mutter prayers as they go along. 
Their dress consists of a large loose piece of yellow cloth 
thrown over their left shoulder, and fastened round tlie waist by 
F F 
