B
BADAHELA-PANGUWA: The tenement of land held by a potter. His service consists of supplying a proprietor with all the requisite earthenware for his house and bath, and his lodgings on journeys, for his muttettuwa, for cooking, and for soaking seed paddy, for festivals, Yak and Bali ceremonies, weddings, etc. The supplying of tiles and bricks and keeping the roof of tiled houses waterproof, giving penum walan to tenants for the penumkat, and making clay lamps, and kalas for temples. The potter also makes a present of chatties as his penum to proprietor and petty officers. When the quantity of bricks and tiles to be supplied is large, the proprietor finds the kiln, shed, clay and firewood. Kumbala is another name by which a potter is known.
BADAL-PANGUWA: The holding held by smiths, called likewise Nawan-panguwa. Under the general term are included: Achari (blacksmiths), Lokuruwo (braziers) and Badallu (silver or gold smiths). The blacksmith supplies nails for roofing houses, hinges, locks, and keys for doors, all kitchen utensils, agricultural implements, and tools for felling and converting timber. His penuma consists of arecanut cutters, chunam boxes, ear and tooth picks, at the forge he is given the services of a tenant to blow the bellows, and when employed out of his house he is given his food. The Lokuruwa mends all brass and copper-vessels of a temple, and generally takes part in the service of the other smiths. The silver and goldsmiths work for the proprietor in their special craft when wanted, and in temples mend and polish all the sacred vessels, do engraving and carving work, decorate the Rate (car of the deviyo) and remain on guard there during the Perahera, attend at the Kaphitawima, and supply the silver rim for the Ehala-gaha. The goldsmiths present penum of silver rings, carved betel boxes, ornamental arrow-heads, etc. The smith tenant also attends and assists at the smelting of iron. In consideration of the value of the service of a smith, he generally holds a large extent of fertile land.
BAGE: A division; a term used in Sabaragamuwa for a number of villages of a Dewala in charge of a Vidane.
BAKMASA: The first month of the Sinhalese year (April-May).
BALIBAT NETIMA: A devil-dance performed for five days after the close of the Perahera by a class of persons superior to the ordinary yakdesso (devil dancers) and called Balibat Gammehela, supposed to be descendants of emigrants from the Coast.
BALI-EDURO: The persons who make the clay images for, and dance at, a Bali-maduwa which is a ceremony performed to propitiate the planets. The performance of Bali ceremonies is one of the principal services of tenants of the tom-tom beater caste.
BALI-EMBIMA: The making of images for a Bali ceremony.
BALI-ERIMA: The performance of the above ceremony. Note the peculiar expression Bali arinawa not Karanawa.
BALI-KATIRA: Sticks or supports against which the images at a Bali ceremony are placed.
BALI-TIYANNO: Same as Bali-eduro.
BAMBA-NETIMA: In the processions at a Diya-kepima there is carried a wickerwork frame made to represent a giant (some say Brahma); a man walks inside this frame and carries it along exactly in the same way as “Jack-in-the green.” The service of carrying it in procession is called Bambanetima.
BAMBARA-PENI: Honey of one of the large bees. A pingo of this honey is given to the proprietor of the lands in which it is collected.
BANA-MADUWA: A large temporary shed put up for reading Bana during Waskalaya, q. v.
BANA-SALAWA: A permanent edifice attached to a wihare for reading Bana.
BANDARA: Belonging to the palace. It is now used of any proprietor, whether lay or clerical, e. g., Bandara-atuwa means the proprietor’s granary.
BANKALA WIYANA: A decorated cloth or curtain, so called, it is supposed, from being imported from Bengal.
BARAKOLAN: Large masks representing Kataragama Deviyo, used in dancing at the Dewala Perehara.
BARAPEN: Remuneration given to copyists. Hire given for important services, as the building of wihares, making of images, etc.
BASNAYAKE NILAME: The lay chief or principal officer of a Dewale.
BATAKOLA: The leaves of a small species of bamboo used for thatching buildings.
BATGOTUWA: Boiled rice served out or wrapped up in a leaf. Boiled rice offered up at a Yak or Bali ceremony.
BATTANARALA: The Kapurala who offers the multen (food offering).
BATWADANARALA: The same as Battanarala.
BATWALANDA: Earthenware vessel for boiling rice in. It is as large as a common pot but with a wider mouth.
BATWALAN-HAKURU: Large cakes of jaggery of the shape of a “Batwalanda” generally made in Sabaragamuwa.
BATWEDA: Work not done for hire, but for which the workmen receive food.
BATWI: Paddy given by the proprietor as sustenance to a cultivator in lieu of food given during work.
BEMMA: A Wall, a bank, a bund.
BEHET-DIYA: A lotion made of lime juice and other acids mixed with perfumes for use at the Nanumura mangalyaya, when the priest washes the sacred reflection of the head of Buddha in a mirror held in front of the image for the purpose.
BETMERALA: The officer in charge of a number of villages belonging to a temple, corresponding to a Vidane, q.v.
BIN-ANDE: Ground share; Ground rent.
BINARAMASA: The sixth month of the Sinhalese year (September-October).
BINNEGUNWI: Paddy given as sustenance during ploughing time.
BISOKAPA: See Ehelagaha. It is a term in use in the Kabulumulle Pattini Dewale in Hatara Korale.
BISSA: A term in use in the Kegalle District for a granary round in shape, and of wickerwork daubed with mud.
BINTARAM-OTU: Tax or payment in kind, being a quantity of paddy, equal to the full extent sown, as distinguished from half and other proportionate parts of the sowing extent levied from unfertile fields. Thus in an amuna of land the bintaram-otu is one amuna paddy.
BODHIMALUWA: The Court round a bo-tree, called also Bomeda.
BOJANA-SALAWA: The same as arasalava.
BOLPEN: Water used at a temple for purposes of purification.
BULAT-ATA: A roll of betel consisting of 40 leaves forming the common penuma to a proprietor at the annual festival corresponding to the old English rent day. It is a mark of submission and respect, and is therefore greatly valued.
BULAT-HURULLA: A fee given to a chief or proprietor placed on a roll of betel. The fee given annually for a Maruvena panguwa.
BULU: One of the three myrobalans (Clough).