The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and (14784337492)

Identifier: worldsinhabitant00bett (find matches)
Title: The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Bettany, G. T. (George Thomas), 1850-1891
Subjects: Civilization Culture
Publisher: London Ward, Lock
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto



Text Appearing Before Image:
SINGHALESE WOMEN. THE INHABITANTS OF ASIA. of Arab descent. The inhabitants generally are not tall, but of good proportions, light to dark-brown, dark-eyed, and black-haired. A large number of the people of Arab or Malay descent are Mahome- Arabs. ^^^^^^ although not very fanatical; but the TamOs are Hindus in religion. The Singhalese generally are Buddhists, representing a
Text Appearing After Image:
SINGHALESE LADY. highly developed form of it. It must be acknowledged that nowhere is Buddhist ^ pure Buddhism better practised than in Ceylon, and it leads worship. ^Q ^ very favourable moral state. Caste is not maintained with great rigour ; but it retains its position as socially convenient, aU classes being eligible to the priesthood, though not intermarrying. Agriculture, THE INHABITANTS OF CEYLON 283 carried on in a very primitive manner, is the main pursuit; but lately European enterprise lias been endeavouring to make improve- . ments, and large crops of tea are now raised, while coffee has greatly degenerated, owing to disease. Of course rice, so necessary as a native food, forms a very large portion of the crops. On the coast, fishing is a considerable pmsuit; and many natives enga,ge in manufactures of decorated fabrics, and gold, silver, and lacquered ware. The Kandians of the hill country form a vigorous branch of the Singhalese, somewhat pecuhar in their customs, and til