62 
TIIE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
during the period allotted, the purchaser of the fishery is 
often allowed a few days more as a favour. One considerable 
interruption proceeds from the number and diversity of holi- 
days observed by the divers of different sects and nations who 
are employed. -Many of the divers are of a black race, known 
by the name of Marawas, and inhabiting the opposite coast 
of Tutucoreen: these people, although of the Malabar cast, 
are Roman Catholicks, and leave off work on Sundays to at- 
tend prayers at the chapel of Arippo. But if many stormy 
days, or Hindoo and Mahomedan festivals (which are never 
neglected on any account by the natives) occur to interrupt 
the regular course of fishing, the farmer is sometimes desirous 
that the Catholick Marawas should make up the lost time 
by working on Sundays: but this he cannot compel them to 
do, without an order from the chief civil officer of govern- 
ment, who is appointed to superintend the fishery. 
The boats and domes employed in the fishery do not be- 
long to Ceylon, but are brought from different ports, of the 
continent; particularly Tutucoreen, Caracal, and Negapatam, 
on the Coromandel coast ; and Colang, a small place on the 
Malabar coast, between Cape Comorin and Anjanga. The 
divers from Colang are accounted the best, and are only ri- 
valled by the Lubbahs, who remain on the island of Manaar 
for the purpose of being trained in this art. Previous to 
the commencement of the fishery, all the boats rendezvous 
at Condatchy; and it is here they are numbered and con- 
tracted for. ' 
