Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.43

c7.43

It will be clear from the account of the land system just given that both husbandmen and craftsmen of all sorts worked either for the King, a religious foundation, or a chieftain, as well as for themselves or their neighbours. Most of these services were themselves a payment for lands held by the family, and so were not otherwise remunerated; and even when work was done to order for a consideration, payment was made in kind, usually shares of paddy from the threshing floor. It will be seen that there was very little use of money, it was indeed so scarce that it could hardly be said to be in circulation;