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 Tree is at the North end of the King's Dominions at
Annarodgburro. This Tree, they say, came flying over from the other
Coast, and there planted it self, as it now stands, under which the
Buddou-God at his being on earth used, as they say, often to fit. This
is now become a place of solemn worship. The due performance whereof
they reckon not to be a little meritorious: insomuch that, as they
report, Ninety Kings have since reigned there successively, where
by the ruins that still remain, it appears they spared not for pains
and labour to build Temples and high Monuments to the honour of this
God, as if they had been born only to hew Rocks, and great Stones,
and lay them up in heaps. These Kings are now happy Spirits, having
merited it by these their labours.
Those whose Ability or Necessity serve them not to go to these Places,
may go to some private Vihars nearer.
[The high honour they have for this God.] For this God above all other,
they seem to have an high respect and Devotion; as will appear by this
that follows. Ladies and Gentlewomen of good Quality, will sometimes
in a Fit of Devotion to the Buddou, go a begging for him. The greatest
Ladies of all do not indeed go themselves, but send their Maids dressed
up finely in their stead. These Women taking the Image along with them,
carry it upon the palms of their hand covered with a piece of white
Cloth; and so go to mens houses, and will say, We come a begging of
your Charity for the Buddou towards his Sacrifice. And the People are
very liberal. They give only of three things to him, either Oyl for his
Lamps, or Rice for his Sacrifice, or Money or Cotton Yarn for his use.
Poor men will often go about begging Sustenance for themselves by
this means: They will get a Book of Religion, or a Buddou's Image in
a Case, wrapping both in a white Cloth, which they carry with great
reverence. And then they beg in the name of the Book or the God. And
the People bow down to them, and give their Charity, either Corn,
or Money, or Cotton yarn. Sometimes they will tell the Beggar, What
have I to give? And he will reply, as the saying is, as much as you
can take up between your two fingers is Charity. After he has received
a gift from any, he pronounceth a great deal of blessing upon him,
Let the blessing of the Gods and the Buddou go along with you; let
your Corn ripen, let your Cattle increase, let your Life be long, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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