Indian Antiquary Vol 08

SR No.: 032500
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 355

NOVEMBER, 1879.)
THE WEDDAS.
315
and wondering manner, with his hand upon his inches in length, up to the end; but they invariaaxe, as if preparing to defend himself. Five or bly do this, and then take a careful and steady six others to whom the glass was successively aim before letting it go. The annexed measure. shown displayed similar gestures, and made use ments of two Weddas will perhaps show, with of exactly the same expressions, asking, in a loud more clearness than any general description, the and excited tone, the meaning of the strango relative dimensions of fairly average specimens of phenomenon.
the race. One of them (Latty) was able to hold The Village Weddas may be differentiated from his bow drawn to its full length for upwards of the others rather by their habits of life than by two minutes, without the slightest tremor of the any physical peculiarities. Their occasional con- left arm. They are, as a rule, good shots; and upon tact with more civilised races has insensibly led one occasion (in February, 1872) I saw a Wedda them to cultivate land and to construct houses; bring down a Pariah dog at a distance of thirtyand during late years an attempt has been made five yards when it was running away. He took to introduce Christianity and a system of educa- very deliberate aim, and the arrow passed through tion among them.
nearly the whole length of the animal, entering at The Jungle Weddas, on the other hand, as is the hinder quarter and coming out through the well known, have no sort of dwelling-houses, and fore choulder. pass their lives entirely in the open air. They Sir Emerson Tennent and Mr. Bailey thought take shelter from a storm under a rock or inside them indifferent marksmen; and the former a hollow tree, if one is at hand; and as they are states that they occasionally use their feet for constantly roaming about in their forest country, drawing the bow, but at the present time, at any their manner of life makes it impossible for them rate, this practice is entirely unknown, and it is to attempt any sort of cultivation. Their food, difficult to understand how or why it ever could which they always cook, is very poor. It consists have existed. They have, in fact, no exceptional chiefly of honey, iguanas, and talagoyas, or the prehensile power in their feet, and they are bad flesh of the wandura monkey, the deer, and the climbers. Their bodies are in no way hirsute, wild boar, for the supply of which they depend nor is there any especial tendency to convergence mainly upon their skill with the bow and arrow. of the hair towards the elbows, or to divergence They are, however, assisted in their hunting from the knees, or vice versa. by their dogs, which are called by distinctive With the exception of their bows and arrows, names, and are the only domesticated animals their only weapon is a small axe, but there is no which they possess. They drink nothing but trace of the use of any flint or stone implements water, and, although they habitually chew the at any period of their history, although it is obbark of certain trees, they never smoke or use Bervable that the word which they use for axe tobacco in any way. The tallest Wedda measured implies the notion of something made of stone, by Mr. Bailey was 5 feet 3 inches, and the shortest and in this instance the ethnological value of 4 feet 1 inch. I found one, however, apparently language is probably shown by the survival in an about eighteen years of age, who was 5 feet 44 expression of ap idea which would otherwise have inches. But notwithstanding their small size and long ago been forgotten. their slight physique, the strength which they The arrows are made of the wood of the welan possess in the arms, and especially in the left arm, tree (pterospermum suberifolium), which is also is very remarkable. It is probable that this is due used for the purpose of kindling fire by means of to their constant use of the bow, upon which they friction, a practice which still has existence chiefly depend for their supply of food. It is about amongst them, although they generally hare 6 feet long, and has generally & pull of from 45 or recourse to the flint and steel by striking the head 48 to about 56 lbs. It therefore requires no ordi- of their axe or the point of their arrow with some nary strength to draw the arrow, which is 8 feet 6 | flint substance. They usually obtain their axes
· Latty. Age about 18. Height, 5 feet 41 inches. From top of forehead to bottom of chin, 64 inches. Across face 54 inches. Shoulder to elbow, 11 inches. From elbow to wrist, 10 inches, and on to end of middle finger, 7 inches. Boand biceps of right arm, 101 inches. Round biceps of loft arm, 10 inches. Round muscle of right forearm, & inches. Round muscle of left forearm, 8 inches. Round chest, 81 inches. Length of thigh, 168 inches. From knee to ankle, 16 inches. Calf of leg in girth, 11t inches. Sole of foot, 9 inches. Round head at the middle of the forehead, 20 inches.
Bandiey. Age about 25. Height, 4 feet 114 inches. From top of forehead to bottom of chin, 7 inches. Across
face, 64 inches. Shoulder to elbow 124 inches. From elbow to wrist,_84 inches, and on to end of middle finger, 6! inches. Roand biceps of right arm, 94 inches. Round biceps of loft arm, 9 inches. Round muscle of right forearm, 8 inches. Round muscle of left forearm, 84 inches. Roand cheat, 29% inches. Length of thigh, 16 inches. From knee to ankle, 15t inches. Calf of leg in girth, 114 inches. Solo of foot, 84 inches. Round head at middle of forehead, 201 inches.
Ceylon, vol. I, p. 499; vol. II., p. 439. .Sc. Gulrekki, gala being the Sinhalese word for stone or rock.