An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous EscapeKnox, Robert
History
An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape
Knox, Robert
Sri Lanka -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Sri Lanka -- Social life and customs
[In case a Man lies with a Woman of inferior rank.] Yet for the Men
it is something different; it is not accounted any shame or fault for
a Man of the highest sort to lay with a Woman far inferior to himself,
nay of the very lowest degree; provided he neither eats nor drinks with
her, nor takes her home to his House, as a Wife. But if he should,
which I never knew done, he is punished by the Magistrate, either by
Fine or Imprisonment, or both, and also he is utterly ecluded from
his Family, and accounted thenceforward of the same rank and quality,
that the Woman is of, whom he hath taken. If the Woman be married
already, with whom the Man of better rank lies, and the Husband come
and catch them together; how low soever the one be and high the other,
he may kill him, and her too, if he please.
And thus by Marrying constantly each rank within it self, the Descent
and Dignity thereof is preserved for ever; and whether the Family be
high or low it never alters. But to proceed to the particular ranks
and degrees of Men among them.
[Their Noblemen.] The highest, are their Noblemen, called
Hondrews. Which I suppose comes from the word Homdrewné, a Title given
to the King, signifying Majesty: these being honourable People. 'Tis
out of this sort alone, that the King chooseth his great Officers
and whom he imploys in his Court, and appoints for Governors over
his Countrey. Riches are not here valued, nor make any the more
Honourable. For many of the lower sorts do far exceed these Hondrews
in Estates. But it is the Birth and Parentage that inobleth.
[How distinguished from others.] These are distinguished from others
by their names, and the wearing of their cloth, which the Men wear
down half their Legs, and the Women to their Heels: one end of which
Cloth the Women fling over their Shoulders, and with the very end
carelesly cover their Breasts; whereas the other sort of Women must
go naked from the wast upwards, and their Cloaths not hang down much
below their Knees: except it be for cold; for then either Women or Men
may throw their Cloth over their Backs. But then they do excuse it to
the Hondrews, when they meet them, saying, Excuse me, it is for warmth.
[The distinction by Caps.] They are distinguished also by their own
Countrey-Caps, which are of the fashion of Mitres: there are two flaps
tied up over the top of the Crown. If they be Hondrews, their Caps
are all of one Colour, either White or Blew: if of inferior quality,
than the Cap and the flaps on each side be of different Colours,
whereof the Flaps are always Red.
[Of the Hondrews two sorts.] Of these Hondrews there be two sorts,
the one somewhat Inferior to the other as touching Marriage; but not
in other things. The greatest part of the Inhabitants of the Land
are of the degree of Hondrews.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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