Chap. II The Aborigines
Singhalese histories all illustrative of Buddhism 325
A Buddha 325
Gotama Buddha, his history 326
Amazing prevalence of his religion (note) 326
His three visits to Ceylon 327
Inhabitants of the island at that time supposed to be of Malayan type 327
Legend of their Chinese origin 328
Probably identical with the aborigines of the Dekkan 328
Common basis of their language 328
Characteristics of vernacular Singhalese 329
State of the aborigines before Wijayo’s invasion 330
Story of Wijayo 330
The natives of Ceylon described as Yakkos and Nagas 331
Traces of serpent-worship in Ceylon 331
Coincidence of the Mahawanso with the Odyssey (note) 332