The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-02-04
THE wEDDAs OF CEYLoN.
A Race of savages--Idiotic Athletes and
Their Customs.

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4 Race of savages--Idiotic Athletes and
Their Customs
At the opening meeting of the Anthro-
illogical lns titute last night, says the Lon
aon Standard of December Is, an interest
g paper was read by B. f. Hartshorns.
So, NJ. A., on "The Weddas of Ceylon,
,erhaps the savages lowest in the scale OF
Intelligence in the world. Some of these
ingular people--two men and three women
were exhibited to the Prince of Vale
'efore leaving the island. The remnant>
+ the Weddas occupy the eastern portio'
Il the island, and are spread over an area OF
inety miles by forty in extent. They al.
iivided into Jungle Weddas and the semi
ivilized or Village Weddas, and it was t.
ne habits of the former that the author 6
lie paper had more particularly directe'
is attention. Their nomadic habits max
>timation of their numbers mere gues
sork, but they were not supposed to excee'
80 in 1853. They have no sort of dwell
g, but pass their lives roaming about
e open air, taking shelter from storm
nder rocks or in hollow trees. Their foo,
insists of honey, lizards, monkeys, dee
Id wild boars. Their arms are the BIO
Ind arrow, and they are assisted in th
chase by dogs, which are their only dome
icated animals. They drink nothing bu
water, which, however, is never used fol
button, they have an idea that washing
vould take away their strength. They chew
he bark of certain trees, but do not uss
obacco in any shape. The tallest Wedda,
described were about five feet three inches,
aud the shortest four feet one inch ; but MI
lartshorne had seen one, young male.
apparently of eighteen, who stood five feei
rour and three-quarter inches. Notwith-
standing their small size and slight ply
sique, the strength which they possess in th'
rms, and especially in the left arm, is very
remarkable. This is due to their constant
ise of the bow, which is six feet long, and
.ulls from forty eight to tifty-six pounds,
With an arrow three feet six inches il
myth. This is pulled to the head, ano
hey dwell on their aim sometimes for
couple of minutes without the slightest
reinor of the left arm being perceptible
IN one occasion the author saw q Wedda
boot dog thirty-five yards off, the arrow
sssing through nearly the whole length OF
40 animal, entering the hind quarter ano
,m,ng out at the shoulder.
Their only other weapon is small Az
Ire is still occasionally produced by tie
re-stick, which is made Of the same woot
their arrows, but more frequently b,
int and steel, which they obtain in ca
lange for hides and bees-wax. Phoio
raphs were exhibited to show their genera
ppearance, and these brought out thei
lost striking characteristics, viz, extreme
hortness of the thumbs and sharply -pointe,
lbows. Their countenances are absolutei.
ievoid of any expression of intelligence
ind their utter neglect of their persons CAV,
m air of extreme barbarism. The wome
wore necklaces and ornaments III their eais
tor which beads and empty catridge-case>
ire employed. Their faces were an expires.
1 lion of great unhappiness, and they never
l .sugh, all attempts TO induce them to laugi
utterly falling indeed, the exhibition
aughter by another person produces unmis
I .akable expressions of disgust. When ash
I d why they do not laugh, they reply
| : Why should we? What is there to laug,
.ta'' They have no words to convey tn
| tlea of colors Or numbers, and they canD.,
| ,ount on their fingers. One Of the most in
1 eliigent of the men had utterly forgottel
| the name of his father and mother, VIII.
| sere dead, and had great difficulty in re
aliing the name of his wife, whom he has
/ ,een only three days before. A Villag'
| Nedda, confined lor the murder of d per
on who he thought had beWltched hin.
| TER three months attendance at scho
.ad only been able to learn nine letters an.
,gnteen numbers. They have no IDEA
he soul of a future state, and though tn
speak Of a superior being, a man quessione
ia this point did rot know whether it W
| good or an evil being. lie was not afral
Of it, nor did he pray 70 it. When de'a,
occurs the body is wrapped in hide An
buried by the men, who dig grave wit
neir hatchets and pointed stakes. NJ
women are allowed TO be present at the p.
erment Nothing is put into the gras,.
nor is the spot ever revisited. An Otferln-
os food is made 10 the dead, with the aa.
Guratlon, 9Ye dead person, take ye thu
food :: but the viallds are then divided ant
consumed by those present. They have 4,
idea OF stealing, anu polsgamy and pols-
.ndry are unknown. Though they mari,
tneir sisters, they never marry the eldes
sister, and there il no marriage ceremony
neSond presentation Of food to the pa
rents of the bride, who has no choice in ths
selection oi her husband, the subjection q
women being complete. he eldest naaat
| Nedda is regarded with patriarchal re
spect but all others are equal. caste heina
unknown. Very little information is to b'
derived from their language. except that i
seems 10 be agreed among phiiologists tina
it il the only savage Language which is g
nnmistakabIe Arsan origin.
It il the custom for ladies having become
d widows 10 drop their husbands initials ane
use their own.