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
Pitu. Which is made thus. They take flower of Coracan, and sprinkle
a little water into it, being both put into a large Pot for the
purpose. Then they stir and rowl it in the Pot with their hands: by
which means it crumbles into corns like Gun-Powder. Then they have a
Pot of boyling water with a cloth tyed over it; and upon this cloth
they lay so much of this corn flower as they can conveniently cover
with another Pot. And so the steam coming through the cloth boils it,
that it will be much like unto a Pudding. And this they use to eat
as they do Rice.
[The Womens Houswifry.] The womens Housewifry is to beat the Rice out
of the husk; which they do with an Ebeny Pestle before mentioned. They
lay the Rice on the ground, and then beat it, one blow with one hand,
and then tossing the Pestle into the other, to strike with that. And
at the same time they keep stroke with their feet (as if they were
dancing) to keep up the Corn together in one heap. This being done,
they beat it again in a wooden Morter to whiten it, as was said
before. This work tho it be very hard, belongeth only to the women:
as also to fetch both wood and water. The wood they bring upon their
heads, the water in an earthen Pot, placing it upon their hip. To the
women also belongs a small bill to cut Herbs, Pumkins &c. Which she
is to dress. Which bill she lays upon the ground, the edg upwards,
and sets her self upon a Staff or handle to hold it fast, and what
she meaneth to cut, she lays it upon the edge, and shoveth it on it.
[How they entertain strangers.] When one comes to anothers house,
being set down the Entertainment is, green Leaves, they call Bullat,
which they eat raw with Lime and Betel-nut, and Tobacco. And being set
a while, the man of the house will ask the Stranger what he comes tor,
which if he does not suddenly, the Stranger will take exceptions at
it, as thinking he is not welcom to him. Neither do they ever go one
to visit the other, unless it be for their own ends, either to beg
or borrow.
[And Kindred.] And if Kindred, that are very nearly related come
together, they have no loving or private conference one with the other,
but fit like strangers very solid and grave. And if they stay above
one night, which is the common custom, then they do help and assist
the man of the house in any work or service he hath to do.
[When they visit.] When any friends go to anothers house to visit,
they never go empty handed, but carry provisions and sweat meats with
them to their friend. And then he makes them a Feast according to
his ability, but they never eat of those things, which themselves
brought. But there is but little feasting among them unless at
a Wedding.
We have been long enough in the house, let us walk abroad, and show
you how the People demean themselves without doors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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