11. Veddas are also mentioned in Robert Knox's history of his captivity by the King of Kandy in the 17th century.12. Thus, over time, it is possible for non-Vedda groups to become Veddas , in this broad cultural sense. 13. Another Tamil word for creeper or vine is valli, the honey collecting daughter of the chief of the Veddas mountain tribe. 14. When a systematic field study was conducted in 1959, the language was confined to the older generation of Veddas from Dambana. 15. Veddas , too, have a claim on the temple, a nearby mountain peak and locality through a number of legends.16. Another group, often termed East Coast Veddas , is found in coastal areas of the Eastern Province, between Batticaloa and Trincomalee. 17. Veddas consider the Vedda language to be distinct from Sinhalese and use it as an ethnic marker to differentiate them from Sinhalese people.18. In 1990s self-identifying Veddas knew few words and phrases in Vedda, but there were individuals who knew the language comprehensively. 19. But John Davies in 1831 wrote that the Veddas spoke a language that was understood by the Sinhalese except for a few words. 20. The Ratnapura District, which is part of the Sabaragamuwa Province, is known to have been inhabited by the Veddas in the distant past.
