214 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
have repeatedly made, I never could learn that there is any 
material difference either in the manners, appearance, or dress 
of the Candian and Cinglese women. 
The Candians are divided into different casts, which take 
precedence of each other according to the most scrupulous 
regulations. The first class comprises the nobles : these ac- 
count it their chief glory to keep their high blood uncon- 
taminated, and for this reason never intermarry with those 
of an inferior rank. If a woman of this cast were found to 
have degraded herself by connexion of any kind with a man 
of a lower cast, her life would be the forfeit. By this regu- 
lation they boast that their blood is preserved pure to the 
latest posterity. This cast, as among the Cinglese, is known 
by the name of Hondrews; and the dress among both is the 
same. The Cinglese Ilondrews, however, under our govern- 
ment, have begun to relax a little in the strictness of their 
ideas of blood ; and connexions are sometimes formed among 
them with inferiors without being attended by lasting infamy. 
The next rank to the nobles includes artists, such as paint- 
ers, and what is accounted the better sort of artificers, such 
as smiths, carpenters, and goldsmiths. The dress of this cast 
is nearly the same with that of the Ilondrews ; but they are 
not permitted to eat with the nobles, or at all to mix in 
their society. 
Those who are employed in what are esteemed the lower 
occupations of barbers, potters, washers, weavers, &c. form 
a third cast, with which the common soldiers rank. 
