226 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
tidier occasionally appears in a coat of crimson cloth or 
velvet, and his dress in other respects corresponds to the 
numerous retinue which always attends him. 
The Mahondrews are fond of magnificence, and seem 
anxious to make a figure in the eyes of Europeans. It is 
at their wedding-feasts that they seem particularly anxious 
to exhibit their splendour, and the Europeans are often in- 
vited to these parties. I have frequently been present at 
such feasts, which were indeed prepared without any regard 
to expence. A ball and supper given by the Maha Moodelier 
to celebrate his daughter's marriage with a noble of the 
same class particularly attracted my notice by the grand 
and expensive style in which it was conducted. The Governor 
and most of the officers of the garrison were present, as 
well as a great number of Dutch ladies and gentlemen ; 
and as the company was too large for any room to con- 
tain, a house was built and covered in for the purpose. 
In the course of the evening the Governor presented the 
Moodelier with a gold chain, as a testimony of the high 
sense entertained of his faithful and upright conduct in our 
service. 
The Moodeliers are of infinite use in preserving the obe- 
dience of the natives, and it is extremely fortunate that 
they are upon so good a footing with our countrymen. The 
whole cast of Mahondrews, like the nobility of other 
conquered countries, have transferred their pride from real 
power to the preservation of a fictitious pre-eminence ; and 
