THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
ig6 
iblc, they wear amulets of various descriptions ; and em- 
ploy a variety of charms and spells to ward off the in- 
fluence of witchcraft and enchantments by which they think 
themselves beset on all sides. 
Such is the hold which these chimeras have from their 
infancy taken of the distempered brain of the Ceylonese, 
that they find it impossible by any extension of their know- 
ledge or experience of their folly, ever to escape from their 
grasp. Many even of those who have been converted to 
Christianity, still labour under their original terrors ; and 
look with regret and envy on the fortitude of the Euro- 
peans that is able to resist these delusions; for delusions 
they own and believe them to be even while they groan 
under their influence. Those however who live in Columbo 
and the other towns of the island where they have an 
opportunity of profiting by the example of Europeans, 
have been able to bring their minds to a comparative state 
of tranquillity. Some of them even go so far as to set 
their inferior deities at open defiance. It is not indeed un- 
common with the Cinglese, upon not having their desires 
complied with, or upon meeting with a series of bad luck 
in spite of their repeated prayers, to quarrel with their 
divinities, revile them, and even trample their images under 
foot. It is probable that by degrees intercourse with 
Europeans will entirely do away these superstitious fears, 
as the Cinglese of the towns have already made consider- 
able progress in subduing their gloomy apprehensions. 
