The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03
As A CINGALEsE SEES Us.
DIT. VINCENT WIGETUNGA ON
WESTERN CIVILIZATION.
Too Much Commerciaiism Here. He Thinks
Why Women Appreciate Buddhism
better Than Men So Errors About
CcyiOu Corrected - Ancient Clio.
NJ hn lu u.s--a

--WnS women Appreciate buddhism
Better Than Men So Err0rs About
Ccyiou Corrected - Ancient Clio
ries nj the CHINA mon Island.
From palm-fringei Ceylon has com. to
member Of high-caste family In Colombo
And he thinks that from the region Of the
cinnamon gardens Of his native city to
New York Is a greater distance as regards
the habits OF the people. thought and
customs than is measured by the number
Of miles between the two cities.
DR.. Vincent Wigetunga pronounced In
English, Wege-t,in- gar) lie a young man
perhaps 2, years Of ago, with a pleasant
personality and an extremely modest and
reticent manner. He Ia slight in figure
Of medium height and dresses in tho English
fashion
He Is finely educated and was graduated
recently from a college Of medicine in this
country. At present he is in this city
studying and taking observations, and he
is active In his pursuit OF q general knowl-
edge of this country and its people.
DR.. Wigetunga is an interesting repre-
sentative OF the modern Cingalese, and
his social position and advantages have
been such that he is cosmopolitan in his
views. While no finds Americans worth
studying. his new acquaintances take no
less pleasure In talking with him regard
ing his own country, its people, religion,
and material progress Lake every et,u-
Gated Brahmin or learned Buddhist, he is
well versed In the subject OF religion.
When asked II lie would consent to be
in or yoyyo1 for TxIp C,-~ Iva .,,,;l;r .n
piled that It would he a pleasure to him
to talk about his country. And. as the
young doctor has pair Of fine eyes and
beautifully white and perfect teeth, his
pleasure was emphasized by bright and
animated expression when he smiled He
wears glasses. and his face has. when in re-
pose a somewhat sad and interpretive
look, such az is common to the people Of the
East.
Regarding Ceylon.' he said, "thero
Is no land which can tell 40 much of It's past
history; not only in records. but also in
songs and legends. Our records have been
verified by monuments, rock inscriptions
and coins. You will be surprised 70 hear
that some of the structures IN and around
our ancient cities are more than two thou
sand years Old and only sacond to those Of
EEyp. In vastness Of extent and architect
ural interest.
Our ancestors were q band Of the Ra put
caste. who under the name Of Cingalese
cniuo over 10 Ceylon from northern India
nearly five hundred and fifty years before
Christ, and under the leadership OF Prince
Wijoya conquered the native rulers ard
made Ceylon their home. The Cingalese
are tho descendants OF the old Arrans; ollr
language is founded on the Sanskrit with
an infusion of Pail Our works on medi-
cine and science are In Sanskrit. ard the
Buddhist Scriptures are mostly in Pail,
which show clearly the origin Of our Ian
guaTe.
aMy country has had TO kings and queens
who have reigned and whore ndministra-
tions have been OF a most varied and inter-
{ sting character. and indicative of q high
degree Of civilization, and mat erial prog.
ress: The remains Of our ancient cities
the buried city Of Polonnarna. the ruins OF
Anura japura,. the stone temples and great
palaces which you ran see now in n dilap;-
dated condition in different parts Of Ceylon
ploquently attest tho architectural skill Of
our ancestors
extensive artificial tanks. which wero con-
structed several hundred years ago, speak
highly Of the engineering skill OF the Cinga-
lese. The scientific engineers of to-day
at thenn.
When Christianity was about 200 years
old, Ceylon's capital was a city Of many
grandees and high officials. and the foreign
who lived there were rich and
powerful, The public buildings were beau
tiful, the streets wide and graded, ard t..e--
were public gardens and baths and halls
houses and hospitals. and these latter not
only for man, but for disabled animals.
We're these people not civilized?
"A little over hundred years ago our
last King became tyrant under the in
and the chiefs. in order 20 save their coun-
try from the righteousness Of the Portu-
guese and tho invasion oi the Dutch were
under tho painful necessity of inviting the
English to rule over us. The English rule
was at our, own request, the proclamation
On the invitation Of the chiefs and the
OF the citizens, we entered
handy. the capital Of Ceylon. and hoisted
he English flag, DO.
We have a bettor form Of government
han In India, and to-day there are in the
sland little less than three million persons
about two millions OF whom are Cinga-
ese. There are many Tamils, some Moham-
nedans, Burghers 10 mixture Of Portu-
yuese. Dutch and other nations) and few |
French and Americans,
4Ceylon Ia naturally very rich country.
md a very beautiful part Of tho world. !
remember reading one Of your Christian !
,ymns which says that Spicy breezes blow |
'oft DER Ceylon's isle, where every pros- |
,ect pleases and only man is vile. and |
lgree to the description. but not to the con-
fusion, We deny that We are vile or
mike the human family in any respect;
ye are no worse, no better.
An Englishnlan thinks that a man to |
70 civilized must speak the English Ian
c,age and dress like an Englishn,an: other
yise he Ia a barbarian. II the Western
,eople who 60 to Ceylon expect to find |
civilization enveloped in flowing silk gowns,
n top hat and frock coat, they will be dis
appointed.
AS far a. ! know, and as much as have
sen OF the world. I can safely state that
rue civilization can exist outside OF these,
nd, not In any special garb. but In It's
imple nakedness Different people in dif-
erant countries, under different climatic
Influences, have different characteristics.
nd it is absurd and uni,Ut for people to
yant to set up their own standard and try
O Judge others accordingly
sWiIl you tell us something OF the con-
|ition OF the women Of Ceylon and also !
4 the religion OF the Cingalese people?"
Il may mention frst that IN the latter |
10 RI NJ the third century Princess SanRa- !