Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.22

c7.22

∗ All service lands might descend to, or be acquired by women, who either paid a money commutation, or provided a substitute to perform personal service. A woman might also hold Pattini devāle lands on condition of personally performing the duties of Pattini Ammā or priestess. † Except very rarely; see Knox, p. 143, also Lawrie’s Gazetteer, p. 736. ‡ Which could only be done by the King, or by others with his express warrant, or at any rate the Disāva’s; as otherwise the King or Disāva would have lost the benefit of services due to them, without being willing to do so. § Knox remarks ‘in my judgement they live far more at ease after they have relinquished the King’s land, than when they had it.’ But of holders of temple lands, per contra, he quotes the Sinhalese saying to the effect that ‘they will surely be punished in the next world for living so easy in this.’ For the last King’s over-exaction of rājakāriya, see the report of the Temple Lands Commissioners 1857-1858, p. 21.