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
The Priest bringeth forth a painted stick, about which strings of
Flowers are hanged, and so it is wrapped in branched Silk, some
part covered, and some not; before which the People bow down and
worship; each one presenting him with an Offering according to his
free will. These free-will Offerings being received from the People,
the Priest takes his painted stick on his Shoulder, having a Cloth
tied about his mouth to keep his breath from defiling this pure piece
of Wood, and gets up upon an Elephant all covered with white Cloth,
upon which he rides with all the Triumph that King and Kingdom can
afford, thro all the Streets of the City. But before him go, first
some Forty or Fifty Elephants, with brass Bells hanging on each side
of them, which tingle as they go.
Next, follow men dressed up like Gyants, which go dancing along
agreeable to a Tradition they have, that anciently there were
huge men, that could carry vast Burthens, and pull up Trees by
the Roots. &c. After them go a great multitude of Drummers, and
Trumpetters, and Pipers, which make such a great and loud noise, that
nothing else besides them can be heard. Then followeth a Company of
Men dancing along, and after these Women of such Casts or Trades as are
necessary for the service of the Pagoda, as Potters and Washer-women,
each cast goeth in Companies by themselves, three and three in a row,
holding one another by the hand; and between each Company go Drummers,
Pipers and Dancers.
After these comes an Elephant with two Priests on his back: one
whereof is the Priest before spoken of, carrying the painted stick
on his Shoulder, who represents Allout neur Dio, that is, the God and
Maker of Heaven and Earth. The other sits behind him, holding a round
thing, like an Umbrello, over his head, to keep off Sun or Rain. Then
within a yard after him on each hand of him follow two other Elephants
mounted with two other Priests, with a Priest sitting behind each,
holding Umbrello's as the former, one of them represents Cotteragom
Dio, and the other Potting Dio. These three Gods that ride here in
Company are accounted of all other the greatest and chiefest, each
one having his residence in a several Pagoda.
Behind go their Cook-women, with things like whisks in their hands to
scare away flies from them; but very fine as they can make themselves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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