66 
TIIE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
are so skilful as to avoid the shark even when they remain 
under water for a considerable time. But the terrors of this 
foe are so continually before their eyes, and the uncertainty 
of escaping him so great, that these superstitious people seek 
for safety in supernatural means. Before they begin diving, 
the priest, or conjurer, is always consulted, and whatever he 
says to them is received with the most implicit confidence,. 
The preparation which he enjoins them consists of certain 
ceremonies according to the cast and sect to which they be- 
long, and on the exact performance of these they lay the 
greatest stress. Their belief in the efficacy of these super- 
stitious rites can never be removed, however different the 
event may be from the predictions of their deluders : Govern- 
ment therefore wisely gives way to their prejudices, and always 
keeps in pay some conjurers, to attend the divers and remove 
their fears. For though these people are so skilful and so 
much masters of their art, yet they will not on any account 
descend till the conjurer has performed his ceremonies. Iiis 
advices are religiously observed, and generally have a tendency 
to preserve the health of the devotee. The diver is usually 
enjoined to abstain from eating before he goes to plunge and 
to bathe himself in fresh water immediately after his return 
from the labours of the day. 
The conjurers are known in the Malabar language by the 
name of Filial Karras , or binders of sharks. During the time 
of the fishery, they stand on the shore from the morning till 
the boats return in the afternoon, all the while muttering and 
