A SINGHALESE MARRIAGE. 223 other, was in the room wherein the ceremony was to be performed. After the marriage, the bride's father, and some near relations, sprinkled her head with rose-water, and the bridesmaids and others took handfuls of silver paper, cut into very small pieces of the shape of diamonds, and threw over her in showers. After this, the bride sat down, and they put upon her head a garland of pearls, and in that seat she remained till the time arrived for the bridal repast. The company sat down upon stools covered with white cloth, when two native musicians began-one, to beat a tom-tom, and the other to blow a wind instrument, the sounds from which made one's blood curdle in the veins; but now, instead of dancing, as might have been the case in this country, the company one and all commenced a furious onslaught upon a preparation of betel, which was handed round. The bride and you must not feel angry with her, for it is the custom of her people—had a silver vessel placed by her side to spit in. Indeed, similar vessels, but of polished brass, were placed round the apartment, one to every other person. The mastication of betel occupied the assemblage until tea was announced; then the young couple, taking hold of each other's hands, led the way to another apartment, plentifully supplied with cakes, plantains, oranges, pine-apples, and other fruits. After this meal, the company reas all turned to the first room; when, as soon were seated as before, the tom-tom beaters and other musicians began to play, and the men in masks to dance. This being concluded, the man on stilts went through a series of very dexterous performances, upon one and upon two legs; the latter was really very surprising, for the stilts were six feet high. After this, came a man made up like a large crane, who danced about with his mouth wide open, in which temporary beak the company, as he passed, placed pieces of Lastly, the entertainment concluded money. with a great display of fire-works. After which, the bride and bridegroom entered their palankeens, and preceded by tom-tom beaters, set out upon their journey to Kandy. CHAPTER XII. WE ASK A CHIEF TO DINE WITH US, AND HE IS CROWS, WHO HAVING ROBBED BOB, ASTONISH "HABIT is second nature," says the proverb, but I do not believe it; for so flexible is the mind of man-of youth especially-that he can with little difficulty adapt himself to circumstances as they arise. No, I do not believe in this proverb; but rather, that nature is ever prompting us "when at Rome, to do as Rome does;" for at school the much-stared-at, much-bewildered "new" boy gets the rough edge of his awkwardness smoothed down, and becomes as much at home as the oldest, in a very few days. Thus, in less than a week, May, Bob, and I felt ourselves almost as comfortable in that village in the wilderness, as if it had been our native home. The truth was, that, in the first place, we were happy within ourselves; and, secondly, having accepted our position, we determined to make the best of it. In a week, the health of Fos had become so L.I.C. Q much improved, that he was enabled to accompany us upon our visits to the headman, and these visits were made daily, sometimes of a morning, when, in his magisterial capacity, he was engaged in settling disputes among his people; at others, in the evening, to partake of his hospitality. Now, as a magistrate I believe the old gentleman was just, i. e., just for a Singhalese; but of his wisdom I will not say much; for to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, is not a harder feat than to make just and wise judges under bad laws, and cruel, despotic sovereigns. Of the wisdom of these laws we had a specimen upon our first visit to the judgment hall. Scarcely had the headman taken his seat, when who should we see enter but our old friend, the chief of the timber-cutters, and not alone, for he dragged with him a slave, whom he charged with having entered his house in the night, and robbing him of a portion of the money he had received for his recent labours. "What witnesses hast thou of these things?" asked the judge. 66 None, oh Excellency, limb of a dog that I am, none but my base self, whose eyes saw this son of a pig taking the money." "Then get thee to the temple and swear this charge," replied the judge. SINGHALESE JUSTICE. 227 And an officer took both men to the temple; but when he brought them back, we found that both had sworn hard and fast, one against the other. This was a dilemma for the judge; but his Excellency got over it by saying— "Since each slave swears against the other, who shall decide but heaven? Therefore let both depart hence, and await patiently the judgment of the gods, who doubtlessly, by exhibiting their wrath upon the real criminal, will point out to us he whom we are to punish." And both obeyed; the slave with delighted alacrity, but the poor timber-cutter with sullen slowness, and much chapfallen. Oh! Solomon, what wouldst thou have thought of such a decision? "Now, look you, Master Tom," said Bob, as the men left, "if old Bob were yonder timbercutter, he'd just ropes-end that rogue till he disgorged the plunder; for that he is the thief, there can't be no doubt, because, d'ye see, 'hang-dog' is written on his face, all up one side and down t'other." The Singhalese, however, have another method of ending more important disputes when there are no witnesses upon either side, which, by the way, will remind you of the custom in European countries during the middle ages. It is by swearing in hot oil. First, each party must procure a license from the government, then they wash |