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
This Voice is heard only in Cande Uda, and never in the Low
Lands. When the Voice is near to a Chingulaye's house, he will curse
the Devil, calling him Geremoi goulammah, Beef-eating Slave be gone,
be damned, cut his Nose off, beat him a pieces. And such like words
of Railery, and this they will speak aloud with noise, and passion,
and threatning. This Language I have heard them bestow upon the Voice;
and the Voice upon this always ceaseth for a while, and seems to
depart, being heard at a greater distance.
[Their Sacrifice to the chief Devil.] When smaller Devils do fail them,
they repair unto the great one. Which they do after this manner. They
prepare an Offering of Victuals ready dressed; one dish whereof is
always a red Cock. Which they do as frequently offer to the Devil,
as Papists do Wax-Candles to Saints. This Offering they carry out
into a remote place in the Woods, and prostrate it to the honour and
service of the Grand Devil, before which there are men in an horrible
disguise like Devils, with Bells about their Legs and Doublets of a
strange fashion, dancing and singing, to call, it it were possible,
the Devil himself to come and eat of the Sacrifices they have brought;
the sick Party is all the while present.
[Their Festivals.] I have hitherto spoke of their ordinary and daily
Worship, and their private and occasional Devotions; besides these
they have their solemn and annual Festivals. Now of these there are
two sorts, some belonging to their Gods that govern the Earth, and all
things referring to this life; and some belonging to the Buddou whose
Province is to take care of the Soul and future well-being of Men.
[Festivals to the honour of the Gods that govern this World.] I
shall first mention the Festivals of the former sort. They are two or
three. That they may therefore honour these Gods, and procure their aid
and assistance, they do yearly in the Month of [The great Festival in
June.] June or July, at a New Moon, observe a solemn Feast and general
Meeting, called Perahar; but none are compelled, and some go to one
Pagoda, and some to another. The greatest Solemnity is performed in
the City of Cande; but at the same time the like Festival or Perahar
is observed in divers other Cities and Towns of the Land. The Perahar
at Cande is ordered after this manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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