Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-09-26
TRUTH-LOVING YEDDAs.
THEY HAVE NEITHER CHIEFS
OR GOVERNMENT.
Aborigines Who do Not Lie Or Steal
Their Life Is the simplest Kind
Imaginable--A Very Re-
markable People.

/
The Yeddas are the aborigines OF the
Island of ceylon. and are very re-
markable people. The pure. unmixed
Yeddas are now hardly more than POO
or 500 In number, and they, therefore,
cut very small figure in an island
that has over million population.
They are scattered among the forests
on the east side OF the island. and are
dificult OF access because the traveller
must provide himself with provisions
for the journey across the island il he
wishes TO visit the natives in their al
most unexplored territory.
About a year ago DIR. p. Sarasin,
accompanied by his cousin. DIR. +.
sarasin, visited these natives for the
sole object OF making an accurate an
thropological study OF them. They
took with them caravan Of fifty cool
les and an OK wagon setting out from
Newafa Eliya, whittier they had ar
rived from Colombo. In six days they
reached the eastern foot of the central
mountain range In the plains which
slope away from this point TO the east
coast stand two small independent
peaks, the most westerly OF which is
named Danigalahela. II is in the hol-
lows Of the forest around this mountain
that the village Yeddas live. The
| plains Of Ceylon have, as character
istie feature. great open grass fats,
surrounded by dense forests. The vii
lage Ncddas are found in these clears
| ings. The small huts are constructed
\ Of the bark Of trees. and consist of an
inner room and a yeranda. The ma
tives are not capable OF building the
hut' themselves, and so they hire the
| Gingalese TO erect them and pay for
their services with the produce OF the
chnse- meat honey and wild fruits.
| When they are unable 10 secure Cinga-
lese for this work they seek shelter
| like the rock Yeddas, who live in the
mountains In hollows. which are
warmed merely by detached blocks OF
/ gneiss lying on one or two sides. and
which afford but a poor protection
/ against the rain and wind. Three diff
ierent settlements Of the village We'd
das were visited by the explorers. and
/ they were fortunate enough 70 discover
a band Of rock Neddas. Over 500
I typical photographs were taken.
The natives have chocolate colored
skin. The nose il broad aud feshy.
the lips swollen and the chin pointed.
The upper lip and chin Of the men Is
covered with small growth Of hair.
/ The hair OF the head falls down 10 the
shoulders like a dark name and Is
very unkempt Their clothing con-
] AZ null ~ sstW a
lo.ns, which Is kept in place by
| girdle ~ twigs. The village Neddas
have 10 some extent intermingled with
4 the Cingalese, and have acquired some
o. their civilization. This appears In
their domestic life and their planta-
tions, whore they cultivate grain. The
rock Neddas, however live principally
I upon flesh. especially that OF deer.
swine monkeys and squirrels while
they dcspisc birds and eggs They dry
their meat over the fire in order 70 pre-
serve il. They also eat baked vans,
various fruits OF the forest certain
leaves and barlSs Of trees.
They have no knowledge of the
caste system OF the natives OF India
nor OF any form OF government since
they have no chiefs The oldest man
In the community appears often to
exercise certain influence, but OF a
1 very limited character. They possess
no form of religion. They appear TO
believe. however, that tho dead be-
come spirits, but this does not prevent
them from conducting explorers TO
burial places and helping them to ex-
hume skeletons which they arc per-
fectly willing the white men should
carry away. Their language Is
that OF Cingalese, which the Veddas
have acquired in time. but they still
use few words OF their original
language. These words OF the ancient
language present great differences in
villages which are often only a few
hours distant from each other
The lifo OF the Veddas Is of the
simplest kind Imaginable, A bow.
arrows. Ratchet two small pieces of
wood for kindling fires n tortoise shell
for bowl girdle for the waist com
posed of leaves and creepers-these
comprise their whole household goods.
They buy iron blades for their hatch
cts, and iron points for their arrows
from the Cingalese, in exchange for
honey, wax and meat No traces of
stone weapons were discovered. though
the explorers made diligent search by
digging in the hollows.
The pure Veddas are characterized
by an almost total absence of wants,
an intense love of personal liberty,
land marked sense Of honor which
regulates their mutual relations better
than written laws. Theft seldom oc-
ours among them. The higher Indian
races are inveterate liars while the
pure vede is noted for truth-telling.
Murder only takes place in cases of
the intldelity OF wife, and then very
rarely.
Poorly Fed Italians.
The working classes of Italy are