THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
194 
CHAPTER IX. 
Religion of the Ceylonese . 
r JTlIE religion of the Ceylonese is one of the most pro- 
minent features in a description of them, and mixes with 
every circumstance of their lives and manners. There is no 
people who labour more under the influence of super- 
stitious fears. Omens regulate their whole conduct, and even 
decide upon their destiny from their birth. When a child 
is born, the first step is to call the astrologer, and en- 
quire 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 anxiously 
observe the first object which occurs to them, and accord- 
ing 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 mischance, and will not proceed for that day 
on their intended business if they can avoid it. I have 
in my morning 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 
