"LEGENDS OF CEYLON"

Therearea vast number of legends current in Ceylon,
some of which have been preserved in books and magazines
published locally. As in Greece and Rome, every stream,
bill, grove, and cave has its story. Almost every place-name
has its tale, and in many cases it is now difficult to say
whether the tale was invented to suit the name or the
name was given on account of the tale. For example,
Sitawaka and Sita-ella may or may not be connected with
the earliest romance of Ceylon history.

It is surprising that no attempt has been made to
collect the folk-lore of the Island and to make it available
to professed students of the subject. In India and other
countries something has been done, and it would repay an
educated and disciminating inquirer to study this subject
and to give the world the results of his research, before new
tales are invented and before the existing tales assume
forms which essentially difler from the original.

Miss Aline van Dort's  "Legends of Ceylon"(Platé Ltd.)
in not strictly speaking, a collection of legends in the sense
already alluded to. Hers is a less ambitious but quite
admirable attempt which has the added attraction of
novelty. She has taken half-a-dozen popular stories and
published thein in the form of fairy tales for the amusement
of children-an excellent idea. The legend of "King
Wikrama and the Grotto Girl " describes how Kandy became
the capital of Lanka. ', Dingirie Meniké "is another well
known Kandyan legend. The story of " Amal-Bisso " is in
essentials the tale with which nearly all children in the
low-country have for generations been delighted.

The only complaint we may make about Miss van Dort's
book is that it is too short. We could have enjoyed two or
three dozen more of these fine legends, so charmingly
written and so well adapted to the tastes of young people,
both those of Ceylon and those to whom the stories of
Cinderella, Jack and the Bean-stalk, and Aladdin are an
unceasing pleasure. We congratulate Miss van Dort and
trust that the success of her book will encourage her to
continue a work so well begun.

(Legends in Ceylon)

    

05/21/00