of water on his left shoulder, and a lighted torch in his right hand. He is followed by the priest, who blows a chanque, and, after once walking round, pierces the water-pot with the sharp end of the shell. This operation he repeats at each turn, until he has formed three openings in the vessel, through which the water gushes out, as the mourner walks along. At last, another person comes behind him, and, taking hold of the brittle vessel, dashes it in pieces on the ground. Then the relative, turning his back to the pile, puts the torch to the wood. He prostrates himself on the earth, and kisses the ground. The priest, and all the other relations, follow his example. the scene of the solemnity, without being permitted to look back; and the people, who remain, add fire to the pile, which is soon involved in flames.

They are then led
}

away

from

The ashes are gathered into a heap: a green bough, or stick with a flag, is planted by its side; and the relations occasionally pay visits to the place.

The ceremony called swinging to recover cast, which is common over all India, is likewise sometimes practised by the Malabars in Ceylon. One, however, which took place at Columbo on the ninth of August, 1799, having been attended with disagreeable circumstances, government interposed its authority to prevent the ceremony in future, and it has not been repeated there since that time.

A strong beam was fixed upright in the ground, and a

the

transverse piece of wood moved on a pivot on the top of it. To this hooks, ropes, and pulleys, were attached for the purpose of suspending the victim. In the first place a sheep was sacrificed, and raised by the tackling to the summit of the pole. When it was lowered down, the devotee was laid on his breast, and two large hooks inserted through integuments of his back, just under the shoulders. While the necessary incisions were making, a great noise was kept up with drums and pipes, to drown the cries of the sufferer, if pain should chance to draw forth an involuntary complaint. Unfortunately too deep a cut had been made in the centre of the cross beam, and it giving way, the man fell down soon after he had been suspended, and was killed upon the spot. The people immediately attributed this fatal accident to the evil eye of a Moorman, who was standing near the scene of the ceremony; and attacking him with fury, they would certainly have put him to death had he not been rescued from their hands by the interposition of some English officers. Many of the Indian spectators, affecting to feel the displeasure of the Almighty, cut their sides with knives, and put pieces of iron through them, in the same manner that the hooks were inserted in the victim. That evening the yearly feast was not celebrated, and its place was assumed by lamentation and mourning.

On occasions of this nature, the suffering is most commonly endured voluntarily. When a man is labouring under

a severe disease, he makes a vow, that if he recover he will make this sacrifice. Another, who has no children, does the same in hopes of his wife proving fruitful. Sometimes a person receives money for allowing himself to be offered up in this manner; and sometimes one man undertakes to suffer for another.

Their dress is

A considerable number of free Malays reside in Ceylon, particularly at Columbo. Many of them are princes and people of rank, who have been banished from their native countries Sumatra and Malacca by the Dutch governments there. They are of a lighter colour, more inclining to copper, than that of any other natives of India: broader, and more robust, but not taller than the Ceylonese. Their heads are compressed, and their noses flattened; their hair either cut short or fastened up with a comb. graceful, in the Turkish or Persian style. coloured handkerchief about the head, a close waistcoat buttoned round the neck, long wide silk drawers, and a long open gown, fastened close at the wrists, and half way up the arm, with nine gold buttons to each sleeve. Sometimes they put on sandals, but more frequently walk with their feet bare. The women wear a kind of short cotton bodice, which binds up their breasts, a long piece of muslin like that of the Malabars, and a loose plaid, or mantle, thrown over one shoulder like a sash.

The men wear a

The Malay soldiers wear the same uniform as our king's

regular regiments, excepting the article of shoes, which has not yet been afforded them. Their native officers, however, wear boots, and dress, in other respects, in the same manner as their English commanders. They all profess the Mahometan religion, and are now peaceable and obedient subjects of the British government.

They were not considered in that light by the Cingalese during the Dutch government The character which they bore for violence and dishonesty caused a constant terror throughout the settlements on our first occupation of them. Our government, therefore, ordered them to take up their abode in such of the principal stations as they chose to fix upon. It increased the small corps of Malays formerly raised to a regiment of one thousand strong, into which they entered with great readiness. Since that time there have been few complaints of outrages committed by men of that nation; and when they have been guilty of any crime, the prompt and impartial execution of justice on the criminals has occasioned no apparent discontent among their countrymen.

CHAPTER V.

145

RELIGION OF THE CINGALESE-WORSHIP OF BUDDHA-FABLE OF HIS BIRTH-DOCTRINE-TEMPLES AND PRIESTS-PORTUGUESE AND DUTCH ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE NATIVES-REVIVAL OF THE LATTER BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT-PRESENT STATE OF CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON.

The

ALL those Cingalese who have not been converted either to Christianity or Mahometanism profess the religion of Buddha, which is to be found in Ceylon in its greatest purity. The Buddhists, however, who live under the British government, do not adhere so strictly to the tenets of their faith as those who are subjects of the king of Candy. generality of the people are, in the highest degree, ignorant, and possess no knowledge of the principles of any religion, beyond what is to be found in the most savage state. The worship of Buddha prevails likewise in the kingdoms of Ava and Siam, the inhabitants of which countries assert that they derived their religion from Ceylon.

The religion of Brahma prevailed all over Ceylon, until

VOL. I.

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