Scope and Contents

Handwritten note on paper affixed to exterior manuscript page reads: "Very old and rare ola—drawing good. Pali text. Incantations and text used in cermonials for relief of sick and as a prophylactic. Ca. 1400 A.D. Kandy, Ceylon. 'Dr. Casey Wood, Suisse Hotel, Kandy, (Ceylon)' [text in quotation marks is stamped]."

Scope and Contents Handwritten note on paper affixed to exterior manuscript page reads: "Very rare Drawing. Great Demon charm used in medical and other ceremonials as a prophylactic & curative agent. Pali MS ca. 1450 A.D."Handwritten note on blank side of a leaf reads: "Sinhalese drawing on Talipot palm leaft. It is the Great Demon charm, used in Devil Dancing and other ceremonies for healing the seer. Very rare. Probably 14th century. In Pali. Kandy. June 1/38."A modern tag with...

Scope and Contents

Handwritten note on paper affixed to exterior manuscript page reads: "A very important charm with incantations in Pali, drawings on the prepared leaf of the Talipot palm. Used for curative and prophylactic purposes. Ca. 1550 A.D.; perhaps later. Kandy, Ceylon. +Rare+"

There is a cardboard tag with handwritten Sinhalese characters tied to the manuscript. The ola was originally marked 7 on the manuscript and on the accompanying tag.

Scope and Contents Handwritten note on paper affixed to a manuscript page reads: "Ola. Portraying the attitudes of Buddha used as a charm against disease, plague and other misfortunes. It is also a protective agent in preserving the life of the wearer or reader. Pali inscription. Fair drawing. Rather rare. Ca. 1600 A.D." Stamped "Dr. Casey Wood, Suisse Hotel, Kandy, (Ceylon)."A small, cardboard tag with Sinhalese characters also accompanies the manuscript. The ola was originally marked...

Scope and Contents Handwritten note on paper affixed to exterior manuscript page reads: "Ola. Drawings and text in Pali of magical diagrams used by the 'witch doctor' in treating disease. These illustrations are poorly made but serve to illustrate an age-old attempt to influence the gods and their attendant demons. Ca. 1620 A.D."Stamped: "Dr. Casey Wood, Suisse Hotel, Kandy, (Ceylon)." A modern tag with Sinhalese characters also accompanies the manuscript. The ola was originally marked...

Scope and Contents

Handwritten note on paper affixed to exterior manuscript page reads: "Small ola. Incantations & charms against disease. Drawings made about 1650. Pali inscriptions. +Rare+

"Images of (?) Hindoo [sic] deity."

Stamped "Dr. Casey Wood, Suisse Hotel, Kandy, (Ceylon)."

A modern tag with Sinhalese characters also accompanies the manuscript. The ola was originally marked 3 on the manuscript and on the accompanying tag.

Scope and Contents

Handwritten note on paper affixed to exterior manuscript page reads: "[sm]all Ola (Pali MS. on prepared leaf of Talipot Palm) of potent charms with [text cut off] drawings intended for medical uses. Kandy, Ceylon, about 1750 A.D."

Stamped "Dr. Casey Wood, Suisse Hotel, Kandy, (Ceylon)."

A modern tag with Sinhalese characters also accompanies the manuscript. The ola was originally marked 8 on the manuscript and on the accompanying tag.

Scope and Contents

Handwritten note accompanying the manuscript reads: "A (?) Hindu "Victory-God" charm insuring the service of that deity in combating disease etc. Spirited drawings with Pali text. Rare. Ca. 1750 A.D. Kandy, Ceylon. Medium (?) Talipot palm leaf."

Stamped "Dr. Casey Wood, Suisse Hotel, Kandy, (Ceylon)."

The ola was originally marked 9 on the manuscript and the accompanying note.

Scope and Contents Typewritten note on inside of wood cover reads: "Ola (palm-leaf manuscript) written in Pali about 1760 A.D. on a medical subject. The binding cord, ivory carved medallion, and laquered [sic] wooden covers are modern, made in Ceylon by native artists after ancient models. Presented by Dr. Casey Wood, 1934."Handwritten note on inside of the opposite wood cover reads: "About 150 years old [the 5 has been emended to read 8]. Snuffs for catarrhs. Ointments and pastes for eye...

Content Description From the Collection:

The collection consists of 25 Sinhalese olas (manuscripts written on palm leaves) from Ceylon on medical subjects, written between 1400 and 1770 ce, by Vederalas (native Ceylon doctors). The collection also includes some miscellaneous palm leaves with writing that are fragments from other non-medical olas.