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 Feast in November.] In the Month of November the Night when the
Moon is at the Full, there is another great solemn Feast, called in
their Language Cawtha Poujah. Which is celebrated only by lighting of
Lamps round about the Pogada. At which time they stick up the longest
Poles they can get in the Woods, at the Doors of the Pagods and of
the King's Palace. Upon which they make contrivances to set Lamps in
rows one above the other, even unto the very tops of the Poles, which
they call Tor-nes. To maintain the charge hereof, all the Countrey in
general do contribute, and bring in Oil. In this Poujah or Sacrifice
the King seems to take delight. The reason of which may be, because he
participates far more of the Honour, than the Gods do, in whose name
it is celebrated; his Palace being far more decked and adorned with
high Poles and Lights, than the Temples are. This Ceremony lasteth
but for one Night.
[The Festival in honour of the God of the Soul.] And these are their
Anniversary Feasts to the honour of those Gods, whose power extends
to help them in this Life; now follows the manner of their Service
to the Buddou, who it is, they say, that must save their Souls,
and the Festival in honour of him.
To represent the memorial of him to their eye, they do make small
Images of Silver, Brass, and Clay, and Stone, which they do honour with
Sacrifices and Worship, shewing all the signs of outward reverence
which possibly they can. In most places where there are hollow Rocks
and Caves, they do set up Images in memorial of this God. Unto which
they that are devoutly bent, at New and Full Moons do carry Victuals,
and worship.
His great Festival is in the Month of March at their New-years
Tide. The Places where he is commemorated are two, not Temples, but the
one a Mountain and the other a Tree; either to the one or the other,
they at this time go with Wives and Children, for Dignity and Merit
one being esteemed equal with the other.
The Mountain is at the South end of the Countrey, called Hammalella,
but by Christian People, Adam's Peak, the highest in the whole Island;
where, as has been said before, is the Print of the Buddou's foot,
which he left on the top of that Mountain in a Rock, from whence
he ascended to Heaven. Unto this footstep they give worship, light
up Lamps, and offer Sacrifices, laying them upon it, as upon an
Altar. The benefit of the Sacrifices that are offered here do belong
unto the Moors Pilgrims, who come over from the other Coast to beg,
this having been given them heretofore by a former King. So that at
that season there are great numbers of them always waiting there to
receive their accustomed Fees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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