(We have worshipped our Buddha;
We have worshipped his foot print;
The god Samen helped us;
His might supported us).
A mother amuses her children by pointing out the moon and asking them to sing out Handa hamy apatat bat kanda rantetiyak diyô diyo (Mr. Moon, do give us a golden dish to eat our rice in); or she makes them clap their hands singing appuddi pudi puvaththâ kevum dekak devaththâ (clap, clap, clap away with two rice cakes in your hands); or she tickles them with the finger rhyme kandê duvayi, hakuru geneyi, tôt kâyi, matat deyi, hankutu kutu. (Run to the hills, bring molasses, You will eat, you will give me, hankutu kutu); or she swings them to the jingle “Onchilli chilli chille malê, Vella digata nelli kelê;” or she rocks them to sleep with the following lullabies:—
Umbê ammâ kirata giyâ
Kiri muttiya gangé giyâ
Ganga vatakara kokku giyâ,
Kokku evith kiri bivvâ,
Umba nâdan babô