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
[Mat-Makers.] Then follow the Kirinerahs. Whose Trade is to make fine
Matts. These Men may not wear any thing on their Heads. The Women of
none of these sorts ever do. Of these two last there are but few.
[The lower ranks may not assume the Habit or Names of the higher.] All
below the Couratto or Elephant-Men, may not sit on Stools, nor
wear Doublets, except the Barbar, nor wear the Cloth low down their
Legs. Neither may any of these ranks of People, either Man or Woman,
except the Potter and the Washer, wear the end of their Cloth to cover
their Bodies, unless they be sick or cold. Neither may they presume to
be called by the Names that the Hondrews are called by; nor may they,
where they are not known, change themselves by pretending or seeming
to be higher than Nature hath made them: and I think they never do,
but own themselves in the rank and quality wherein they were born,
and demean themselves accordingly.
All Outlandish People are esteemed above the inferior ranks. The Names
of the Hondrews always end in oppow, of others below the degree of
the Elephant People in adgah.
[Slaves.] The Slaves may make another rank. For whose maintenance,
their Masters allow them Land and Cattle. Which many of them do so
improve; that except in Dignity they are not far behind their Masters,
only they are not permitted to have Slaves. Their Masters will not
diminish or take away ought, that by their Diligence and Industry
they have procured, but approve of it, as being Persons capable to
repose trust in. And when they do buy or otherways get a new Slave,
they presently provide him a Wife, and so put him forward to keep
House, and settle, that he may not think of running away. Slaves that
are born of Hondrew Parents, retain the Honour of their degree.
[Beggars.] There is one sort of People more, and they are the Beggars:
who for their Transgression, as hereafter shall be shewn, have by
former Kings been made so low and base, that they can be no lower
or baser. And they must and do give such titles and respects to all
other People, as are due from other People to Kings and Princes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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