Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.25

c7.25

*Husbandmen* Ganvasama. These tenants had no turn of duty as guards. They had to deliver into the royal store duties in kind (rice and coconuts) or to pay a commutation; to supply the Disāva with similar provisions, especially when travelling on duty in the district; with corresponding duties if the proprietor was a temple or chief. The Ganvasam people were often of the same social standing as the proprietor, and sometimes related to him. They were generally the wealthiest in a village and held the most fertile lands. Consequently they had to make contributions in the shape of aḍukku and pehindum (provisions) to the proprietor and his retinue on his periodical visits, to his officers coming on duty, and to his messengers despatched with orders to tenants. They had also to give the maha-kat monthly, the penum-kat at festivals, and dan-kat during Vas, and to feed the workmen in the muṭṭeṭṭuva or homefield, and the officers superintending the work. It should be explained that the muṭṭeṭṭuva just referred to is the field belonging to the proprietor, whether a chief or temple, and cultivated on his account jointly by tenants of every description. The proprietor usually found the seed rice, and bore all cost of agricultural implements, and sometimes gave the buffaloes. The service of the tenants was reckoned not by days, but by the number of the different agricultural operations to which they had to contribute labour. All the tenants took part in the cultivation, and were generally fed by the proprietor or by the Ganvasam tenants on his behalf. The services of the different classes of the tenantry on an estate were centred in its muṭṭeṭṭu field. Hence the passing of the muṭṭeṭṭuva from the family of the landlord into the hands of strangers is invariably followed by the tenants resisting their customary services in respect of the muṭṭeṭṭu. A peṇuma or dēkuma is a customary gift made by the tenant to the proprietor, annually or often. The peṇuma of the Ganvasam people consists of sweetmeats, provisions, etc. A peṇum-kaḍa (pl.-kat) is a yoke-load consisting of such gifts. The maha-kaḍa is a yoke-load of provisions given once a month. A dan-kaḍa is a yoke-load of provisions given to a priest. Vas is the rainy season when priests are the guests of the villagers, and their wants regularly provided for without need for seeking daily alms. The Ganvasama had to provide all that was required for strangers visiting the village, and generally to discharge those duties of hospitality for which the Kandyan villages are celebrated. This entailed upon the *Ganvasam* the necessity of setting apart a place called the *iḍange* for lodging strangers. The whole charge of the *muṭṭeṭṭu* work devolved on the *Ganvasam*, which also had to superintend and assist in building work at the proprietor’s house, attend at his house on festive and other occasions, in times of sickness, and at funerals, bringing *peṇum-kat* and provisions. A *Ganvasam* tenant had to accompany the proprietor on his journeys on public occasions, and to guard his house in his absence. A woman of the *paṅguva* (holding) likewise had to wait on the lady of the house, and to accompany her on journeys. The *Ganvasam* took the lead in the annual presentation of the tenants before the proprietor. In temple villages, in addition to the above services performed to a lay chief, the *Ganvasam* had to superintend, and take part in the preparations for, and celebration of, the festivals.