[An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies by Robert Knox]@TWC D-Link book
An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies

PART III
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And then he makes them a Feast according to his ability, but they never eat of those things, which themselves brought.

But there is but little feasting among them unless at a Wedding.
We have been long enough in the house, let us walk abroad, and show you how the People demean themselves without doors.
[Their manner of Salutations.] When they meet one another, their manner of Salutation or obeisance is, to hold forth their two hands, the Palms upwards, and bow their Bodies: but the superior to the inferior holds forth but one hand, and if the other be much beneath, him he only nods his head.

The women salute by holding up both their hands edgways to their Foreheads.

The general complement one to another at first meeting is to say Ay; it signifies how do you: and the other answers, Hundoi, that is, well.
[The Nobles in their best Apparel.] The Habit of the men when they appear abroad is after this sort.

The Nobles wear Doublets of white or blew Callico, and about their middle a cloth, a white one next their skin, and a blew one or of some other colour or painted, over the white: a blew or shash girt about their loyns, and a Knife with a carved handle wrought or inlaid with Silver sticking in their bosom; and a compleat short Hanger carved and inlaid with Brass and Silver by their sides, the Scabbard most part covered with Silver; bravely ingraven; a painted Cane and sometimes a Tuck in it in their hands, and a boy always bare-headed with long hair hanging down his back waiting upon him, ever holding a small bag in his hand, which is instead of a Pocket, wherein is Betel-leaves and nuts.


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