The houses of the Ceylonese are small and low, con sisting only of one story. They arc constructed of slen der pieces of wood or bamboo, daubed over with clay, and covered with rice straw, or the leaves of the cocoa tree. Round the walls of these huts are small banks of clay, on which they sit or sleep. These benches, as well as the floors of their houses, they overlay with cow-dung, in order to preserve them from vermin, and to keep them smooth and clean. The furniture of their cottages is of the most simple kind, and consists merely of a few instruments, indispensably necessary for the preparation of their victuals. The Ceylonese use neither tables, chairs, nor spoons ; but, like other Indians, place theme selves on the ground, and eat their food with their hands. The houses of the Candians are much superior to those of the Cingalese ; for although the latter are accustomed to see better models, yet the abject state to which they have been reduced under the tyranny of the Portuguese and Dutch, has retarded their progress in improvement. Their villages, instead of presenting the regular com• pact appearance of a town, look like a number of miser able huts scattered through the midst of a thick forest. There is not the smallest regularity observable among them ; but every individual places his cottage near the centre of a cocoa tree tope, in the most convenient spot he can find. In the mountainous parts of the country, where the natives live in continual danger of attack from wild beasts, of being annoyed by serpents, or suddenly overtaken by inundations, it is usual for them to build their huts on the summit of rocks, or even on the top of lofty trees. Some of them also fix a number of high posts in the ground, and place on these a kind of hurdle, which serves them for a nocturnal habitation.
In their dress, the Ceylonese are remarkably simple.. That of the lower ranks of men consists merely of a piece of coarse cloth wrapped round their loins, and covering their thighs, or frequently only the parts which decency requires to he concealed ; that of the women is similar, but only longer, and they also wear a short jacket, which usually covers their breasts and shoulders, leaving the middle of the back bare. The higher ranks cover the whole of their bodies ; they are fond of ornaments, and the dress of many of them bears some general re semblance to that of Europeans.
In their diet the Ceylonese are remarkably temperate. The principal part of their food consists of fruits and rice. Flesh is seldom used by them ; but in some places where fish abounds, they employ them as a portion of their meals. In dressing their victuals, the Ceylonese are scrupulously nice ; and, in drinking, they are careful not to touch the vessel with their lips, but hold it at some distance over their head, and pour the liquor down their throat. All ranks among them chew the betel leaf ; this is the desert at all their entertainments, and the usual supplement to all their conversation. Along with it they mix tobacco, areka nut, and the lime of burnt shells, in order to render it more pungent. When chewed, this mixture becomes red as blood, and stains the mouth, lips, and teeth, of an indelible black colour. This they think a beautiful effect, for they consider white teeth as only fit for dogs, and a disgrace to the human species. This hot mixture, however, soon destroys their teeth, and often renders them toothless at an early age. There is a wonderful degree of gravity observed among the Ceylonese in company, even among relatives and intimate friends. At meals they seldom converse with each other; and it is not unusual to see a party sit perfectly mute for a long time, and during all the while chewing the betel leaf.
The Ceylonese are courteous and polite in their man ners, to a degree far exceeding their civilization, and greatly superior to other classes of Indians. In their salutations they are particularly punctilious. The form which they use is that common in the East, of bringing the palm of the hand to the forehead, and then making a low bow. Ihowever, though in general courteous and polite, if their anger is once moused, it is proportionally furious and lasting. Their hatred is so violent, that they often destroy themselves to obtain the destruction of the detested object. A Ceylonese has been known to kill himself in the company of his enemy, that the latter might suffer for it.
The Ceylonese are of a remarkable dissolute charac ter. It is common for the men to indulge in promis
cuous inlet course with the female sex ; while the in fringement of the laws of chastity on the part of a WO.. Mall, scarcely subjects her, even though married, to the slightest reproach, unless, indeed, it happens to be with one of an inferior cast ; au act which is considered as the very excess of infamy. Among people of the same rank, the moat unbounded commerce is carried on in private ; and it is by no means uncommon, nor attended with any disgrace, for the nearest relations to have connection with each other. The Ceylonese are particularly fond of forming a correspondence with Europeans ; and, instead of accounting it any reproach, a mother, in quarrelling with any of her neighbours, will silence them at once with regard to her superior dignity, by telling them, that her daughter has had the honour to receive the favours of an European.
Though in Ceylon the men are not limited to one wife, yet in consequence of the case with which promiscuous intercourse is carried on, and the facility with which marriages arc dissolved, together with the poverty of the natives, polygamy is not general among them. Indeed, this is so far from being the case, that it is not unusual, particularly for brothers, to have one woman in common. In general, the contract of marriage is originally made by the parents while the parties are in a state of child hood ; and it is often dissolved by mutual consent, al most as soon as it is consummated. It is also customary for those who intend to marry, previously to cohabit to gether, and to make trial of each other's temper, and if they do not agree, they break off the connection without any further ceremony. In this case, no disgrace at taches to either party, but the woman is held in as high esteem by her next lover as if he had found her in a state of virginity. If, however, the parties agree to mar ry, the man presents the bride with the wedding clothes, which consist only of a piece of cloth about six or seven yards in length, and with another cloth which is placed on the bed. On the following night he is entitled to sleep with her ; and on this occasion they fix the time for the celebration of their nuptials. When the day ar the bridegroom and his relations repair to the house of the bride, carrying along with them .v hat they are able to contribute for the marriage feast. The par ties then eat out of one dish, to denote that they ore of the same cast ; after this their thumbs are tied together ; and the ceremony concludes by the nearest relations, or the priest when present, cutting them asunder. This form, however, is scarcely considered as obligatory. When the Ceylonese wish to render a marriage as firm and indissoluble as the nature of their manners will ad mit of, the parties are joined together with a long piece of cloth, folded several times round both their bodies, and water is then poured on them by the priest, who al ways officiates at this ceremony. After the marriage, the young couple pass the night at the bride's house, and in the morning the husband takes her home, accom panied by her friends, .vho carry with them provisions for another feast. The dowry of the wife is in propor tion to the ability of the parents ; hut if they afterwards separate, it returns with her, that she may be as good a match for her next husband. Both men and women often divorce several times, before they find a partner with \awn they can reconcile themselves to spend their days. If they have children when lacy separate, the law is, that the sons remain with their father, and the daughters go V. ith their MOthel• 111dCed, they often i•t•e no family, as the practice of infanticide is common ill Cey lon. As soon as an infant is born, the father applies to an astrologer to know whether it is in a good or an e.il hour. If it is found to he the latter, they immediately de stroy it, either by starving it to death, by drowning it, or by burying it alive ; or else they give it to some per son of the same rank with themselves, for they say the child will be unhappy only to the parents. In general, the women of Ceylon are much more pleasant and agree able than those in the other parts of India ; but owing to their early intercourse with the other sex, (for they arc regularly married when about twelve,) they soon lose the appearance of youth, and become old and hag gard in their looks immediately' after they pass twenty.