Jaddes

Jaddes a name of the priests of the genii among the islanders of Ceylon. The pagodas or chapels where they officiate have no revenue, and any pious person who builds a chapel officiates in it himself as priest. The exteriors of these chapels are painted with representations of halberds, swords, arrows, shields, and the like. The natives call these chapels Jacco, i.e. the devil's tenement, Jacco or Jacca signifying devil; the islanders of Ceylon, like many other savage tribes, worshipping the devil because of his wickedness and evil propensities (comp. Lubbock, Origin of Civilization, p. 159 sq.). The Jaddes, when he celebrates the festival of Jacco, shaves his head. See Knox, Desepition of Ceylon, pt. 4:ch. 5; Broughton, Biblioth. Hist. Sac. 1 499; Davy, Account of Ceylon, p. 118. (J. H. W.)