THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
201 
several other parts of the continent, under a different name, 
the deity of the moon. 
The priests of Buddou are in Ceylon accounted superior 
to all others. They are called Tirinanxes , and arc held in 
high estimation at the court of Candy, where indeed they 
have the chief management of affairs. The king has no 
authority over them, but endeavours to gain their good- 
will by respecting their immunities, and loading them with 
distinctions. They have on many occasions shewn their 
gratitude for these attentions, and have materially assisted 
him both in repressing disturbances 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 transmigration into 
various bodies before it reaches Nimban or the region of 
Eternity. 
In such high veneration are the Tirinanxes held that their 
persons are accounted sacred ; and the king of Candy, 
absolute as he is, has no power to take away their lives 
or anywise punish 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 
all religious disputes. The body of the Tirinanxes arc 
elected by the king from among the nobles, and they are 
consequently men possessed of power and influence even in- 
dependent of their sacred character. The honours and 
respect with which they are every where attended shew the 
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