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
[Tricks and feats of Activity.] When they would be merry, and
particularly at their great Festival in the New Moon of June or July
(before mentioned;) they have People that shew pretty tricks and feats
of Activity before them. A man sets a Pole of seven or eight foot long
upon his Breast; a Boy gets to the top of this Pole, and leans with
his Belly upon the end of it; and thus the man danceth with the Pole
on his Breast, and the Boy on it, and but little holding the Pole. A
man takes four Arrows with blades about a foot long, they are tied
one cross another, and so laid upon the end of a Pole, which rests
upon the man's Breast. On a sudden he squatts down upon the ground,
and the four Arrows all fall on the four sides of him, sticking in the
ground. Two Cross-bows stand bent one opposite to the other, charged
with Arrows drawn up to the heads: they are placed just so high, as
they may fly over a man's back when he lyes flat upon the ground. A
man danceth between them and shows Tricks, and when he is pleased,
he touches a string made fast to both their trickers, at which they
both instantly Discharge, and he falls flat down between them, and
the Arrows fly over his back, which if they hit him, undoubtedly fly
thro his Body. A Woman takes two naked Swords under each Arm one,
and another she holds in her mouth, then fetcheth a run and turns
clear over, and never touches the ground till she lights on her feet
again, holding all her Swords fast. There are divers other Diversions
of this nature too large to mention.
[At leisure times they meet, and discourse of News.] At their leisure
when their affairs will permit, they commonly meet at places built
for strangers and way-faring men to lodge in, in their Language called
Amblomb, where they sit chewing Betel, and looking one upon the other
very gravely and solidly, discoursing concerning the Affairs at Court,
between the King and the great Men; and what Employment the People of
the City are busied about. For as it is the chief of their business
to serve the King, so the chief of their discourse is concerning
such matters. Also they talk of their own affairs, about Cattel and
Husbandry. And when they meet with Outlandish-men they enquire about
the Laws and Government of their Countrey, and if it be like theirs;
and what Taxes and Duties we are bound to pay, and perform to our
King, &c.
[Drunkenness abhored.] And this manner of passing their leisure time
they account the greatest Recreation. Drunkenness they do greatly
abhor, neither are there many that do give themselves to it. Tobacco
likewise they account a Vice, but yet is used both by Men and Women;
but more eaten than drunk in Pipes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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