accommodessan
land granted and attached to a service, formally only tied to one person performing the said service, not inheritable.

āchāriCaste of artisans, primarily smiths and carpenters. Primarily known in the Dutch sources as black, silver and goldsmiths.
caste of artisans and craftsmen, for example black, silver and goldsmiths, stonemasons and carpenters, see also: badähala.

aduku
boiled/cooked, or prepared foods that had to be supplied as provisions to travelling chiefs or colonial officials (see pingo and pyhindu).

ambalama
rest house for travellers.

ämbättayo
caste of barbers.

amuna, or amunam
local standard of measurement, used by VOC and indigenous officials alike, when related to grains or paddy it refers to the sowing capacity of a field (which was dependant on the type of land, but typically 1 amuna stood for approximately 2 acres), for areca nuts 1 amuna consisted of approximately 25,000 nuts. See also: kuruni.

ande
tax rate, half of the produce, often used as a penalty tax if a piece of land was cultivated without the VOC’s consent, or for highly fertile lands.

appuhamy
one of the highest honorific titles amongst the goygama caste, often serving as indigenous commissioners for the VOC (see saparamādu).

ārachchi
spelled ‘araatje’ by the VOC clerks and officials, a minor indigenous headman or tasked with administrative duties, or as a sergeant of a small group of lascarins under a mohandiram.

atapattu
guards or servants of a high official, e.g. serving the disāvaHistorically a district chief under the pre-colonial kingdoms, during colonial times this functionary was a European official who dealt with all matters related to the hinterlands beyond the cities like Colombo, Galle and Jaffna. To aid him in this task he was supported by rural councils (Landraden) consisting of both local and European chiefs and councillors..

atukōrāla
deputy kōrāla, often occupying this title next to other services to the Company, see kōrāla.

badähala
potters caste, artisan, see also: āchāriCaste of artisans, primarily smiths and carpenters. Primarily known in the Dutch sources as black, silver and goldsmiths..

doop
Dutch for baptismChristian ritual in which a person is either sprinkled with water or going under water completely in order to be officially recognised as a part of the church, and spiritually marked by God. For adults baptism often is paired with a confession of their own personal faith. When children get baptised, often before their first birthday, their parents promise to raise the child in a Christian way.. Christian ritual in which a person is either sprinkled with water or dipping completely under water to be officially recognised as a part of the church, and spiritually marked by God. For adults baptismChristian ritual in which a person is either sprinkled with water or going under water completely in order to be officially recognised as a part of the church, and spiritually marked by God. For adults baptism often is paired with a confession of their own personal faith. When children get baptised, often before their first birthday, their parents promise to raise the child in a Christian way. often is paired with a confession of their own personal faith. When children get baptised, often before their first birthday, their parents promise to raise the child in a Christian way.

barbier
Dutch for barber, see ämbättayo.

beeldhouwer
sculptor, stonemason, referring to the caste of stone-cutters, see āchāriCaste of artisans, primarily smiths and carpenters. Primarily known in the Dutch sources as black, silver and goldsmiths..

bellale (or wellale)
Dutch corruption of the Tamil word for the landowning caste, vellālar, also used for the highest caste in the Sinhalese context (see: goygama).

berava
caste of (spiritual) healers.

bhupati
‘lord of the lands’, the sovereignty claim of the Sinhalese feudal kings as proprietors of all the lands within their domain, over which rājakāriya was to be paid or performed in taxes or labour services by the people cultivating a share of the landed property. Later used by the European colonists to legitimise their right to exploit taxation, and caste-related duties and labour services.

binna
uxorilocal marriage where the wife continued living on her family’s estate where her husband joined her (see: diga).

burger (or burgher)
also ‘vrijman’ or ‘vrijburger’, European or Eurasian citizens, often former employees of the Company now settled on the island privately, or descendants from the Portuguese.

ChintzColourful, luxurious cloth, often decorated with flowers. Made of cotton, linen and/or silk, and worn in various ways on special occasions. Southeast Asian ‘Serasah batik’ is related to this type of cloth, and the Dutch used the terms interchangeably for these and other South Asian textiles.
Colourful, luxurious cloth, often decorated with flowers. Made of cotton, linen and/or silk, and worn in various ways on special occasions. Southeast Asian ‘Serasah batik’ is related to this type of cloth, and the Dutch used the terms interchangeably for these and other South Asian textiles.

choenamberoe
see: hunuCaste-group historically associated with lime burning, but in colonial times often working as labourers in the port cities. .

Chettiar (or Chetty)
plural: Chetties, social group predominantly associated with trade and artistry, of South-Indian descent.

chiando (or ciando)
see: durāva.

dienstparavēni
a plot of land with a type of service attached to it, similar to accommodessan, but inheritable and belonging to one family exclusively.

diga
virilocal marriage where a woman would live with her husband on his family’s estate (see: binna).

disāvaHistorically a district chief under the pre-colonial kingdoms, during colonial times this functionary was a European official who dealt with all matters related to the hinterlands beyond the cities like Colombo, Galle and Jaffna. To aid him in this task he was supported by rural councils (Landraden) consisting of both local and European chiefs and councillors.
or its Dutch corruption ‘dessave’, originally one of the highest ranking political officials directly under the Sinhalese kings, commander of a disāvany, since the Portuguese period and throughout the VOC’s reign this official was of European descent. First in the chain of indirect rule, and last European official in that chain, (except for the captain of the Mahabadde).

disāvany
or the Dutch corruption ‘dessavonij’, province or district, originally subdivision of the Sinhalese kingdoms, later also as the provinces of the VOC’s coastal territories.
Dominee Dutch word for protestantWestern Christianity is divided into two main denominations, Catholicism and Protestantism. The latter was dominant in the Netherlands. In Sri Lanka it was specifically the Dutch Reformed Church, a protestant form of Christianity that functioned as the official church of the VOC. minister.

durāva (or ‘chiando’)
caste of toddy-tappers (toddy being the highly fermentable sap of palm trees, used for the distillation of e.g. arrack, or palm wine). They were also supposed to aid during hunts for live elephants.

duria (or duraya)
headman of lower caste group, chief and overseer of minor group of cinnamon peelers, tasked with the administration of the cinnamon collection.

fiscal
Company officer responsible for policing and maintaining public order, also acted as prosecutor in legal cases.

gerechtigheid
generally spelled as ‘geregtigheid’ in the VOC documents, refers to the Company’s self-proclaimed ‘right’ to tax all cultivated lands, except paravēnis, as the bhupati (see also rājakāriya).

gewatta
garden surrounding the home, often filled with fruit-bearing trees.

goygama
highest caste in the Sinhalese social hierarchy, landowners and high-ranking peasants.

hakuru (or wahumpura)
lower-caste known for the production of jaggery (suiker branders, ‘sugar burners’), had to perform several menial services as well.

hināwa
lower sub-caste of the salāgama, grasscutters and suppliers of fodder for elephants, also washers for the salāgama and occasionally peeled cinnamon themselves.

hunuCaste-group historically associated with lime burning, but in colonial times often working as labourers in the port cities. 
caste of lime burners, who harvested and dried corals before placing it into a lime kiln. The resulting material was used in the construction of local houses and temples, but also of colonial forts and walls.

jagereros
see hakuru.

kalkbrander
Dutch for lime burner, see hunuCaste-group historically associated with lime burning, but in colonial times often working as labourers in the port cities. .

kangān (or ‘kangaan’)
low-ranking indigenous official sorted under an ārachchi, e.g. as corporal amongst the lascarins, or as overseer.

kanakkuppillai
known in southern India as a social group of scribes, often used by the Dutch to describe (village-level) clerks throughout the island. Possible Chola-era origin.

karāva
caste group, traditionally fishermen by trade, but during the colonial era increasingly active in other occupations and economic niches. Placed by some in the Sinhalese caste system, by others as a separate social group.

kōrāla
indigenous chief, high official within the VOC’s system of indirect rule as headman of a kōralē.

kōralē
subdistrict or province under a disāvany or commandement (commandment).

kumbura
paddy field.

kuruni
local standard of measurement, 40 kuruni makes 1 amuna.

LandraadLiterally translates as ‘land council’ or ‘rural council’, this colonial court dealt with legal conflicts between mostly local litigant parties. Additionally they were responsible for the maintenance of the population and land registers known as the thombos.
rural council, from 1745 onwards every disāvany had such a council which consisted of both European and indigenous councillors and commissioners. Responsible for administrative and legal matters, primarily regarding the hinterlands.

lascarinA lascarin was an indigenous foot soldier or guard. They performed a diverse set of services such as carrying messages, guarding gates or individuals, and policing. They were rewarded lands in compensation for their services.  (or ‘lascorijn’)
indigenous soldiers and guardsmen mainly tasked with policing and guarding locations and officials, sometimes employed as messengers.

lēkam miti
land registers kept by the bureaucracies of the indigenous kingdoms of Kotte and Kandy on ola leaves, the first Portuguese tombos were based on translated lēkam miti records.

malapāluLands that were once granted to someone because of the service they provided but which were retracted upon the proprietor’s death. lands that were escheated back to the king, and later the Company, upon the tenant’s death without heirs, also see: nilapālu.

‘maha-’
meaning ‘great’ or ‘greater’ in the context of local titles, e.g. mahamudaliyār, mahamohandiram, etc. Also in ‘greater court’, for example Mahanaduva, Greater Court in Kandy.

Mahabadde
the cinnamon department, during the reign of the VOC its captain was a European official.

mayorāl
known locally as kāriyakaravanno (‘those organising rājakāriya’), oversaw the execution of labour duties in a village or region. Also acted as low officials in VOC’s system of indirect rule, hosting visitations by VOC officials and performing several administrative functions for the Company.

mohandiram
indigenous chief sorted under a mudaliyārOne of the highest ranking indigenous chiefs in colonial times. Traditionally a military title, under colonial rule it became an important administrative office as well.   or kōrāla, military officer of a division of lascarins, or a secretary/scribe.

mohotti (or mohotiar)
secretary of a kōrāla, also used to described the clerk of the Political Council.

Moors
Muslim communities in Sri Lanka, considered the descendants of Arabian and South-Indian traders who were practitioners of Islam.

mudaliyārOne of the highest ranking indigenous chiefs in colonial times. Traditionally a military title, under colonial rule it became an important administrative office as well.  
often spelled as ‘modliaer’ by the VOC clerks and officials, one of the highest ranks of indigenous chief in the Dutch-controlled southern regions. Originally a military title, but in the Dutch system of indirect rule primarily tasked with policing and several administrative tasks.

nainde
lower subgroup within a caste-group (e.g. goygama, salāgama), performs several labour duties for higher fellow caste members and the VOC.

nanayakkāraya
one of the highest ranks amongst the goygama, permanent indigenous commissioners who inspected gardens and fields (see saparamādu and panividakārayā).

Native catechistA specific teaching function within the Dutch church. This term was used in the 18 century to distinguish lecturers in the church who were of Lankan decent. Catechists taught the fundamentals of the Christian faith to adults and children, supported the ministers in their work as pastoral leaders and in church services.
A specific teaching function within the Dutch church. This term was used in the 18th century to distinguish lecturers in the church who were of Lankan decent. Catechists taught the fundamentals of the Christian faith to adults and children, supported the ministers in their work as pastoral leaders and in church services.

nely
the taxation of rice/paddy fields.

nilapālu
lands that were returned to the king, and later the Company, upon the end of a service term that was either annulled or of which the tenant failed to find or produce a male heir to take over the service and thus the land.

ninda
untaxed lands, category in the thomboFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, these land and population registers had pre-colonial roots in the palm-leaf inscribed ‘lēkam miti’ registers. First translated by the Portuguese, by the second half of the eighteenth century under Dutch these centralised registers contained the names of hundreds of thousands of local inhabitants and their property in the form of sowing fields, gardens and plantations. Read more in our longread. typically used to describe the size of ‘ancestral’ (see: paravēni) lands – specifically sowing fields.

ola
dried palm leaves used by local communities for writing. Often in the form of testimonies or deeds.

ottu
tax rate, one-tenth of the produce.

ōwiti
often slightly higher-elevated meadow lands on the banks of a river or stream that are relatively dry. Used periodically for the cultivation of different kinds of crops (not suitable for rice).

padu
lower caste of cultivators and farmers, often cultivating lands belonging to goygama families while living on a parts of these lands and taking some produce in return.

pagoda
South-Indian golden coin, worth 2 rijksdaalders, primarily used by merchants active in the Indian Ocean World.

panividakārayā
messenger with a higher-ranking status, recruited from appuhamies, (see saparamādu and nanayakkāraya).

paravar (or ‘parua’)
seafaring social group from South India, mostly fishermen and merchants by trade.

paravēni
‘ancestral land’, inheritable and alienable land permanently granted to a family, exempted from taxation.

patangatim
known in Dutch as pattangatijn, indigenous chief of the karāva caste, similar in function to a mohandiram.

pattu (or pattuwa)
subdivision of a kōralē.

pyhindu
raw/uncooked food supplies that had to be supplied as provisions to travelling chiefs or colonial officials (see pingo and aduku).

pingo
provision that had to be supplied to high officials (originally local chiefs, later travelling envoys of the VOC), specifically see aduku and pyhindu.

plakkaat‘placard’, published legal proclamations in the VOC’s overseas territories. 
‘placard’, published legal proclamations in the VOC’s overseas territories.

porovakāraya
caste of woodcutters.

pottenbakkers
also spelled as ‘pottebackers’, Dutch for potters, see: badähala.
ProtestantWestern Christianity is divided into two main denominations, Catholicism and Protestantism. The latter was dominant in the Netherlands. In Sri Lanka it was specifically the Dutch Reformed Church, a protestant form of Christianity that functioned as the official church of the VOC. Western Christianity is divided into two main denominations, Catholicism and Protestantism. The latter was dominant in the Netherlands. In Sri Lanka it was specifically the Dutch Reformed ChurchWhen the Dutch came to Sri Lanka, they brought their church with them. This Protestant institution was known as the ‘Dutch Reformed Church’. It built churches in cities and villages all over the island, these also functioned as protestant schools, led by often local schoolmasters. In these schools children were taught reading and writing in their vernacular, on the basis of Reformed texts., a protestantWestern Christianity is divided into two main denominations, Catholicism and Protestantism. The latter was dominant in the Netherlands. In Sri Lanka it was specifically the Dutch Reformed Church, a protestant form of Christianity that functioned as the official church of the VOC. form of Christianity that functioned as the official church of the VOC.

puran (or ‘poerang’)
fallowed paddy-lands.

Raad van Justitie
council of justice, highest legal institutions in the Dutch territories, one for every district/disāvany. Exclusively European VOC officials acted as judges for the most severe, or repeatedly appealed, criminal and civil cases.

radāCaste-group known in the Dutch colonial sources as ‘washers’. Historically known for their ceremonial functions in regards to linen (e.g. decorating villages upon official visitations, washing the clothing of high-caste families or monks, providing burial sheets for the dead, etc.).
washer caste, named ‘wassers’ by the VOC clerks and officials, predominantly subsistent farmers by trade, but had to perform certain ritual services for both higher castes and VOC officials.

rājakāriya
tax/duty, either paid in share of the produce from a land or through obligated labour services, to the ruler of a land for cultivating a plot of land (see, bhupati).

ratmahara
abandoned lands, waste lands, could be cleared for cultivation upon request to the VOC in return for ottu for three years.

rijksdaalder
‘rix dollar’, principle conversion coin used by VOC and in the Dutch Republic, 48 heavy stuivers or 60 light stuivers made one rijksdaalder.

Roede(n)
Old standard to measure the size of an area, different standards were maintained in the Lowlands, but the Company likely used Rijnlandse roeden (1 roede equals 14.19 m², 45 voeten make 1 roede) Used in the thombosFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, these land and population registers had pre-colonial roots in the palm-leaf inscribed ‘lēkam miti’ registers. First translated by the Portuguese, by the second half of the eighteenth century under Dutch these centralised registers contained the names of hundreds of thousands of local inhabitants and their property in the form of sowing fields, gardens and plantations. Read more in our longread. to measure the size of a plot of land.

rol
generally spelled as ‘rolle´ in the VOC documents, literally translates as ‘roll’, list or register.

saparamādu
spelled ‘saffermadoe’ by the Dutch, indigenous commissioner or envoy employed directly by several different VOC offices and officers, sent into the hinterlands to investigate and report on affairs there, or to settle local conflicts. Also sent to Kandy in name of the VOC.

salāgama
caste of cinnamon peelers, traditionally mostly low-caste subsistent farmers who were seasonally bound to perform the harvest of cinnamon for local political elites, during colonial period increasingly influential and peeling for the Company on a nearly full-time basis.

sannas
a deed confirming a formal gift (often a plot of land), traditionally inscribed on a copper or silver plate but in the time of the Company’s governance usually recorded on an ola. VOC also used ‘sannas olas’ to publish new laws or proclamations.

school thomboFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, and in this case means register. The school thombo was a church register in which not only school children were registered, but also their families, as well as when each member was baptised, married and deceased. Not related to the Land and Head Thombo.
The school thomboFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, and in this case means register. The school thombo was a church register in which not only school children were registered, but also their families, as well as when each member was baptised, married and deceased. Not related to the Land and Head Thombo. was a church register in which not only school children were registered, but also their families, as well as when each member was baptised, married and deceased. Not related to the Land and Head ThomboFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, these land and population registers had pre-colonial roots in the palm-leaf inscribed ‘lēkam miti’ registers. First translated by the Portuguese, by the second half of the eighteenth century under Dutch these centralised registers contained the names of hundreds of thousands of local inhabitants and their property in the form of sowing fields, gardens and plantations. Read more in our longread..

stuivers
bronze coins used in the Dutch Republic and by the VOC.

tamblinjero
drummers, announced the arrival of newly published ordinances or other declarations.

thomboFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, these land and population registers had pre-colonial roots in the palm-leaf inscribed ‘lēkam miti’ registers. First translated by the Portuguese, by the second half of the eighteenth century under Dutch these centralised registers contained the names of hundreds of thousands of local inhabitants and their property in the form of sowing fields, gardens and plantations. Read more in our longread.
land and population registers compiled throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by the Dutch East India Company in Sri Lanka, based on the Portuguese tombos and the lēkam miti. See also ‘school thombo’

timmerman
carpenter, commonly, but not exclusively, referring to the artisan caste, see āchāriCaste of artisans, primarily smiths and carpenters. Primarily known in the Dutch sources as black, silver and goldsmiths..

toepas
Portuguese creole word referring to people of Portuguese-Asian descent.

tombo
Portuguese for ‘register’, ‘tome’, or ‘book’, in the Sri Lankan context they were land and population registers strongly inspired by the local lēkam miti system (see: thomboFrom the Portuguese ‘tombo’, which translates as tome or volume, these land and population registers had pre-colonial roots in the palm-leaf inscribed ‘lēkam miti’ registers. First translated by the Portuguese, by the second half of the eighteenth century under Dutch these centralised registers contained the names of hundreds of thousands of local inhabitants and their property in the form of sowing fields, gardens and plantations. Read more in our longread.).

tuin (or ‘thuijn’)
garden, plantation, see: gewatta.

uliyam
obligated labour service for Muslims, Chetties, and other ‘foreigners’ (vreemdelingen, frosteiros), could be bought-out with a monthly fee.

vellālar
one of the highest castes amongst the Sri Lanka Tamils, landowning class, see bellale.

vidānes
lower-ranking headman, administrative chief of an appointed region or village within a kōralē or pattu.

vissers
literal translation means fishermen, but mostly related to certain seafaring social groups in the Dutch sources, specifically see karāva and paravar.

VOC
Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the Dutch East India Company, existed formally from 1602-1798.

voet(en)
see roede(n).

wassers
see: radāCaste-group known in the Dutch colonial sources as ‘washers’. Historically known for their ceremonial functions in regards to linen (e.g. decorating villages upon official visitations, washing the clothing of high-caste families or monks, providing burial sheets for the dead, etc.)..

wibadde
commonly as described as ‘wibadde vidāne’, lower, village-level officials who were responsible for the collection of rice paddy tax (see nely) on behalf of the VOC.

zaaiveld
sowing field, see: kumbura.

zuurzak(boom):
literally translated as soursop, but in the Lankan context used to refer to jackfruit (trees) by the Dutch.