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
Being minded to direct the Polonga to this bowl, but desirous withal to
preserve the Child, he told him, That he knew of water, but that he was
such a surly hasty creature, that he was fearful to let him know where
it was, lest he might do some mischief; Making him therefore promise
that he would not, he then told him, that at such a place there was a
bowl of water with a Child playing in it, and that probably the Child
might, as he was tumbling give him a pat on the Head, as he had done
to him before, but charged him nevertheless not to hurt the Child,
Which the Polonga having promised went his way towards the water, as
the Noya had directed him. The Noya knowing his touchy disposition,
went after him, fearing he might do the Child a mischief, and that
thereby he himself might be deprived of the like benefit afterwards. It
fell out as he feared. For as the Polonga drank, the Child patted
him on the head, and he in his hasty humour bit him on the hand and
killed him. The Noya seeing this, was resolved to be revenged; and so
reproaching him for his baseness, fought him so long till he killed
him, and after that devoured him. Which to this day they ever do,
always fight when they meet, and the Conquerour eats the the body of
the vanquished. Hence the Proverb among the Chingulayes, when they see
two men irreconcileable, they compare them to the Polonga and Noya,
and say, Noya Polonga waghe, like a Noya and Polonga.
[The Carowala.] There is the Carowala, about two foot in length very
poysonous, that lurks in the holes and thatch of houses. The Cats
will seize these and kill and eat them.
[Gerende.] Other Snakes there are, called Gerende, whereof there
are many but not venomous. Of the former there are but a few in
comparison. These last mentioned the greatest mischief they do, is to
destroy young Birds and Eggs, and young Hares. Rabbets cannot be kept
here to run wild, because of these and other Vermin, such as Polecats,
Ferrets, Weazels, &c.
[Hickanella.] Hickanella, much like a Lizzard, venomous, but seldom
bites unless provoked, these ly in the thatch of the houses.
[A Great Spider.] There is a Spider called Democulo, very long black
and hairy, speckled and glistering. Its body is as big as a mans
fist with feet proportionable. These are very poysonous; and they
keep in hollow Trees and holes. Men bitten with them will not dy,
but the pain will for some time put them out of their Sences.
Cattle are often bit by some of these Snakes, and as often found dead
of them, tho not eaten. Treading upon them sleeping, or the like,
may be the cause of it. When the people are bitten by any of these,
they are cured by Charms and Medicines, if taken and applyed in time.
There are also a sort of Water Snakes they call Duberria; but harmless.
Alligators may be reduced hither: there be many of them. Of which we
have said somewhat before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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