Many of the Vehars are endowed and have Farms belonging to them.  And these Tirinanxes are the Landlords, unto whom the Tenants come at a certain time and pay in their Rents.  These Farmers live the easiest of any people in the Land, for they have nothing to do but at those set times to bring in their dues and so depart, and to keep in repair certain little Vehars in the Countrey.  So that the rest of the Chingulais envy them and say of them, Though they live easy in this world, they cannot escape unpunished in the life to come for enjoying the Buddou’s land and doing him so little service for it.

[The habit of these Priests.] All the rest of the order are called Gonni.  The habit is the same to the whole order, both Tirinanxes and Gonni.  It is a yellow coat gathered together about their wast, and comes over their left shoulder, girt about with a belt of fine pack-thread.  Their heads are shaved, and they go bare-headed and carry in their hands a round fan with a wooden handle, which is to keep the sun off their hands.

[Their Priviledges.] They have great benefit and honour.  They enjoy their own lands without paying scot or lot or any Taxes to the King.  They are honoured in such a measure, that the people, where ever they go, bow down to them as they do to their Gods, but themselves bow to none.  They have the honour of carrying the Tallipot with the broad end over their heads foremost; which none but the King does:  Wheresoever they come, they have a mat and a white cloth laid over upon a stool for them to sit upon; which is also an honour used only to the King.

[What they are prohibited.] They are debarred from laying their hands to any manner of work; and may not marry nor touch women, nor eat but one meal a day, unless it be fruit and rice and water, that they may eat morning and evening:  nor must they drink wine.  They will eat any lawful flesh that is dressed for them, but they will have no hand in the death of it; as to give order or consent to the killing of it.

They may lay down their order, if they please; which some do, that they may marry.  This is done by pulling off their coat, and flinging it into a River, and washing themselves head and body, and then they become like other lay-men.

[When any is religiously disposed, these Priests sent for in great ceremony.] There is a benefit that accrueth to them, which is, when any man is minded to provide for his soul, they bring one of these Priests under a cloth held up by four men, unto his house, with drums and Pipes and great solemnity which only can be done unto the King besides.  Then they give him great entertainment and bestows gifts on him according as they are able:  which, after he hath tarried a day or more, they carry for him, and conduct him home with the like solemnities as he came.  But the night that he tarries with them he must sing Bonna, that is matter concerning their Religion out of a Book made of the leaves of Tallipot:  and then he tells them the meaning of what he sings, it being in an eloquent style which the Vulgar people do not understand.