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
Touncheroutwitch, It is finished.
Na & Natti, No, or not.
I shall only make one Observation from these words, and that is
concerning the four first. It is this, that they have no words of
their own Language for God and Heaven, but in all probability borrowed
them from the Portugueze. But for the two next, The Devil and Hell,
words of their own. They number thus,
[Their Numbering.]
Eckhoi I.
Deckhoi II.
Tunhoi III.
Hotterhoi IV.
Pauhhoi V.
Hoyhoi VI.
Hothoi VII.
Ot hoi VIII.
Novihoi IX.
Dauhoihoi X.
Eckolauhoi XI.
Dolahoi XII.
Dauhottunhoi XIII.
Dauhotterhoi XIV.
Paulohoi XV.
Dauhossahoi XVI.
Dauhahottoi XVII.
Dauha ot hoi XVIII.
Dauhanovihoi XIX.
Vishoi XX.
Tihoi XXX.
Hottalehoi XL.
Ponnahoi L.
CHAP. X.
Concerning their Learning, Astronomy, and Art Magick.
[Of their Learning.] Their Learning is but small. All they ordinarily
learn is to read and to write. But it is no shame to a man if he can
do neither. Nor have they any Schools wherein they might be taught
and instructed in these or any other Arts.
[Their Books, and Arts.] Their Books are only of their Religion and
of Physick. Their chief Arts are Astronomy and Magick. They have a
Language something differing from the vulgar tongue (like Latin to
us) which their Books are writ in. [How they learn to write.] They
learn to write upon Sand, spreading it upon the ground, and making
it smooth with the hand, and so write the letters with their fingers
to bring their hand in use.
They write not on Paper, for of that they have little or none; but on
a Talli-pot leaf with an Iron Bodkin, which makes an impression. This
leaf thus written on, is not folded, but rolled up like Ribbond,
and somewhat resembles Parchment.
[How they make and write a Book.] If they are to write a Book,
they do it after this manner. They take the Tallipot leaf, and
cut it into divers pieces of an equal shape and size, some a foot,
some eight inches, some a foot and an half long, and about three
fingers broad. Then having thus prepared the leaves, they write in
them long ways from the left hand to the right, as we do. When the
Book is finished they take two pieces of board, which are to serve
for the cover of the Book. To these boards are fastened two strings,
which do pass thro every leaf of the Book, and these tye it up fast
together. As the Reader hath read each leaf, he lifts it up, and lays
it by still hanging upon the strings, and so goes to the next leaf,
something resembling Bills filed upon Wyre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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