Sinhalese Zoological-astrological ola

96 leaves : illustrations ; 6.2 x 15 x 6.5 (8 lines per leaf) 96 leaves : 6.2 x 15 x 6.5 (8 lines per leaf) Manuscript Poleman description: According to note with manuscript it is the nearest approach to a work on zoology the Sinhalese writers ever attempted. The anatomical chapters treat of elephants, fish, horses, men and women, and other vertebrates, including monsters. Sinhalese script. 96 ff Ola is in good condition compared with others in the collection. Text is legible. Leaves are brittle but only slightly discoloured with little cracking. Cord passes through one of two holes in the ola Fragmentary note by Casey Wood tied to the ola mentions the zoology library. Notes pasted into the kamba board reads: "Sinhalese OLA (palm leaf manuscript) written on the prepared fronds of the Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) about 1812 A.D. It is the nearest approach to a work on ZOOLOGY that the Sinhalese writers ever attempted. The anatomical chapters treat of elephants, fishes, horses, men, women, and other vertebrates, including monsters, and they are crudely illustrated. Ca. 1812 AD. Presented by Dr. Casey Wood, Kandy, Ceylon, March 1, 1927, to the Blacker Library. [A duplicate of the same label found in Archivex box] Comments by Dr. Perera: A work on astrology, well written. Kandappu is the name of the owner given at the start of the text. The animals illustrated here are not to do with zoology, but serve as shapes for astrological calculations. The twenty-seven dots around them represent the lunar mansions. The text has to do with auspicious times for events, including puberty. No medical content Sinhalese ola. Modern, decorated lacquered cover, cord, & wooden button. It is the nearest approach to a work on zoology the Sinhalese writers ever attempted. The anatomical chapters treat of elephants, fishes, horses, men, women, & other vertebrates, including monsters, and they are crudely illustrated. Ca. 1812 AD Collected by Dr. Casey Wood: no. 266B