Two Sinhalese Soldiers

Two men outdoors on uneven ground. The man on the left wears a knee-length hip-cloth (veshti, lungi) folded double at the waist. Hanging from his left hip is a short sword (kastane). Long wavy hair hangs down his neck beneath a tall round cap. The man on the right sits on a stone with his right leg folded over his left knee. He wears a hip-cloth (veshti, lungi) pulled up above the knees; above this is a broad waistband with loose ends. The decorated hilt of a short sword (kastane) is visible on his left hip. Above the waistband, the handle of what is likely a knife protrudes from under his right arm. The man has a beard and moustache, and short hair protrudes from beneath his tall round cap. Both men are Ceylonese mercenary soldiers (lascars) now in Dutch service. They belong to the Govi caste. Sheet 4 from a sketchbook with 117 sheets.