Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c29.s1.4

c29.s1.4

The warp is laid (*dig-gahanava* or *heḍa lanava*) in two operations. The spun thread (*nal*) is first unwound from the spindle, then broken, and passed through the heddles and through the teeth of the sleay or reed; the short ends left projecting through the teeth are tied temporarily to avoid slipping out. The remainder of the warp is then laid to the required length, and the threads broken off and joined on to the short ends projecting through the heddles.