An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 438 pages of information about An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.

An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 438 pages of information about An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.

No body can reproach the King and the Beggar.  Because the former is above the slander of the People, and nothing can be said bad enough of the latter: 

Like Noia and Polonga.  Denoting Irreconcileable Enemies.  The story of which two Serpents hath been related before.

He that hath Money to give to his Judge, needs not fear, be his Cause right or wrong.  Because of the corruption of the great Men, and their greediness of Bribes.

If our Gerehah, fortune be bad, what can God do against it?  Reckoning that none of their Gods have Power to reverse the fate of an ill Planet.

The Ague is nothing, but the Head-ach is all.  That Countrey is very subject to Agues, which do especially afflict their heads who have them.  I might multiply many more of their Proverbial sayings, but let these suffice.

I cannot pretend to give an account, of the Grammar of this Tongue; I shall only give a few instances of their words, and leave it to the Learned to make their Conjectures.  First, I will give you some of their Nouns Plural.

[Something of their Grammer.]

Minnia,   A Man.         Minnis,    Men. 
Cucula,   A Cock.        Cuculong,  Cocks. 
Cole-la,  A Boy.         Colani,    Boyes. 
Gahah,    A Tree.        Gos,       Trees. 
Auhoun,   A Horse.       Auspio,    horses. 
Polaha,   A young Jack  Polas,     Jacks.

But usually when they have occasion to speak of many they express themselves by Numerals set after the Noun; as Dissawva two, three, &c.  An Egg, Bittera, Eggs, Bittera cattei, word for word, Egg many.

Their Verbs they form after this manner: 

Mam conna,              I eat. 
Mam conyum,             I will eat. 
Mam cava,               I have eat. 
Conowa,                 Eating. 
Caupoudi,               Let him eat. 
Caum,                   Let us eat. 
Conda,                  To eat. 
Caula,                  Eaten.

Mam denyam, I will give. 
Mam Doun na, I gave. 
Dila, I have given. 
Dendi, Shall I give? 
To give. 
Dem, Let us give. 
Dennowa, Giving. 
Dipon, Give him. 
Douna, or Dila tiana, Given.

Mam yonyam,             I’le go. 
Mam yonda oni,          I will go. 
Yong,                   Let us go. 
Yonowa,                 Going. 
Yonda dipadi,           Let him go. 
Pollatch,               Gone, spoken of an ordinary person. 
Pollad-da,              Gone, spoken of a person of great quality.
Mam oy,                 I am,
Eai,                    He, or They or He is. 
Mam gia atti,           I have been. [Atti] signifieth [have]
Gia dendi.               Let him, or give him leave to go.

[A Specimen of their words.]

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An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.