Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c22.36

c22.36

Some of these may be referred to in greater detail. The sickles (Pl. XLV., 14) are provided with a sharply serrated edge, and the blade ends in a fine point, easily inserted between the stalks of the grain. Punched ornament is commonly applied (Fig. 101). In rarer cases the sickle may be damascened and have an ivory handle. A special smaller form is used for reaping *kurakkan* (Pl. XLV., 13). Somewhat similar in appearance are *pan-keti*, grass mat-weavers’ knives, of which one end is adapted for cutting, the other is lance shaped, for purposes of insertion between the strands of plaited grass (Pl. XLV., 11, 12). Knives are, of all Kandyan ‘curiosities,’ perhaps the best known to collectors. The simplest are of plain steel, but very graceful form, with wooden or horn handles, and carried in the belt by every villager, to lop off inconvenient branches as he passes through the jungle, to open coconuts, or cut jungle ropes. From these knives there are all transitions to the most elaborate and costly of silver or gold inlaid and overlaid knives worn by the greatest chiefs as a part of the costume, and never intended for use. The workmanship of many of these is most exquisite, the mounting and sheaths being equally beautiful (Pl. XLVII., 1-8); but this fine work is done rather by the higher craftsmen, the silversmiths and ivory carvers, than by the mere blacksmith. Many of the best knives were doubtless made in the Four Workshops, the blades being supplied to the silversmith by the blacksmiths. Folding knives are rarely seen (Pl. XLVII., 9, and XL., 18).