•218 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
their independence; and a strict enquiry was instituted by 
our government, to find out whether the king of Candy had 
jfny share in exciting the rebellion. It could not however be 
ascertained that he had any connexion with it, or had given 
them the slightest encouragement. 
The warlike habits of the Candians make them naturally 
look with contempt on the Cinglese, who are almost entirely 
unacquainted with the management of arms, having no occa- 
sion to use them except in procuring game for the tables of 
the Europeans. 
The dress of the poorer sorts of the Cinglese in a par- 
ticular manner bespeaks their indolence and wretchedness. 
It consists merely of a piece of coarse cloth wrapped round 
their loins, and covering their thighs, or frequently only the 
parts which decency requires to be concealed. Their hair is 
either tied up in a bunch on the crown of the head, or 
cropped quite close, which is the usual custom among the 
lower orders of the peasants. The women wear their hair 
tied up in the same way, or fastened with tortoise-shell 
combs. Their dress consists of a piece of cloth wrapped 
round the waist, and reaching down to their ancles ; among 
the very poorest class it does not reach below the knee. 
They wear also a short jacket which usually covers the 
bosom and shoulders, leaving the middle of the back bare; 
the bosom is also frequently exposed. This class of women 
are employed to do all manner of servile work, and to bring 
the fruits and vegetables to market. 
