Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c22.24

c22.24

The work of the blacksmith falls to be considered next. The general duties of a smith *Smiths'* are enumerated above, on p. 25. We have seen that he purchases iron from the smelter. *services* This rough bloom he prepares for use by repeated heating and hammering; or makes steel from it in the manner already described. But the chief part of his work is the manufacture of tools and implements. We have seen that for each royal manor, a smith was appointed whose duty it was to make the tools required by the tenants; and certain fees and perquisites were due to the smith for this work, viz. a certain rate of corn in harvest time, according to ancient custom, and extra presents in the case of special work. These smiths were ‘protected,’ for the tenants of each manor were compelled to go to their own smith, and none else; and any smith working out of his own district was liable to pay damages to the smith whose rights were thus infringed.