Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.84

c7.84

“They are a people proper and very well favoured. . . . They are very active and nimble in their limbs and very ingenious. . . . They are crafty and treacherous, not to be trusted upon any protestations: for their manner of speaking is very smooth and courteous, insomuch that they who are unacquainted with their dispositions and manners, may easily be deceived by them. For they make no account nor conscience of lying, neither is it any shame or disgrace to them, if they be catched in telling lies: it is so customary.* They are very vigilant and wakeful, sufficed with very little sleep: very hardy both for diet and weather, very proud and self conceited. . . . They are not very malicious one towards another; and their anger doth not last long; seldom or never any blood shed among them in their quarrels. It is not customary to strike; and it is very rare that they give a blow so much as to their Slaves; who may very familiarly talk and discourse with their *Masters*. They are very near and covetous, and will pinch their own bellies for profit; very few spendthrifts or bad husbands are to be met with here. . . . Of all Vices they are least addicted to stealing, which they do exceedingly hate and abhor; so that there are but few Robberies committed among them. They do much extol and commend Chastity, Temperance, and Truth in words and actions; and confess that it