56 BULLETIN 141, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



long.) The lamps of India and Ceylon are all of the type under con- i 

 sideration. No simple saucer lamps such as are used in the Far East 

 are found. Minor household lamps are seen among tribes and: 

 peoples along the border of Chinese influence, but invariably have' 

 wick grooves. Plate 54 shows simple Ceylonese lamps of circular 

 or oval outline brought up to a beak for the wick. Figures 9 and 11 

 are of a stony composition and Figure 10 is of soft earthenware. 

 (Cat. Nos. 168300, 168301, 168304, Ceylon Commission, World's Co- 

 lumbian Exposition, Chicago, 111.; fig. 9, 5 inches (13 cm.) diameter; 

 fig. 11, 3.7 inches (9.5 cm.) diameter; fig. 10, 5.5 inches (14 cm.) wide, 

 11.3 inches (28.5 cm.) long.) Ceylonese metal lamps sometimes in 

 the commoner forms have a square reservoir with wick channels at 

 the four corners. Such a lamp of tin with column and pan base is 

 shown on Plate 45, Figure 6. The more important lamps, like those 

 of India, have multiple light. One of these, of heavy cast brass, has 

 nine small wick channels. The reservoir is placed midway of a 

 roundel stem centered in a dish. A trefoil handle is placed at the 

 apex of the column. (PI. 52, fig. 3, Cat. No. 234132, Ceylon; St. 

 Louis Exposition; Ceylon Commission; 13.4 inches (34 cm.) high.) 

 Another fine specimen is similar and has seven wick channels in the 

 open reservoir. This lamp is reminiscent of the Italian lucerna, as 

 the reservoir can be raised or lowered on the central support. (PI. 

 52, fig. 5, Cat. No. 168205, Ceylon; Ceylon Commission, St. Louis 

 Exposition; 24.8 inches (63 cm.) high.) As mentioned, the lamps 

 of India generally have multiple lights. Plate 52, Figure 1, is of 

 cast brass, the reservoir with four lights mounted on a column and 

 base suggesting European influence. (Cat. No. 92753, Calcutta, 

 India; H. R. H. The Rajah of Tagore; 12 inches (30.5 cm.) high.) 

 On the same plate (fig. 2), is an excellent specimen of quite old, pure 

 Indian work in brass. The simple lamps are stepped on the ends of 

 conventional branches, five in number, supported on a resting bird 

 on a high peak. (PI. 52, fig. 2, Cat. No. 216067, India; Bennoo- 

 Hodges; 13.8 inches (35 cm.) high.) Another old specimen shows a 

 fabulous animal holding the stem of a one-wick lamp. (PI. 53, fig. 

 1, Cat. No. 216068, India; Bennoo-Hodges ; 5.5 inches (14 cm.) long, 

 5.2 inches (13 cm.) high.) 



A hand lamp of brass having 12 wick orifices leading into a 

 circular reservoir filled from above is a departure from the usual 

 Indian method. (PI. 53, fig. 2, Cat. No. 216060, India; Bennoo- 

 Hodges; 3.2 inches (8 cm.) diameter, 8.3 inches (21 cm.) long.) 

 Figure 3 is a lotos pod, the wick being drawn up at four angles. 

 The curved handle and base of the lamp are joined by a straight 

 bar. (PI. 53, India; Bennoo-Hodges; 4.8 inches (12 cm.) long, 

 4 inches (10 cm.) high.) Perhaps belonging here is a wooden lamp 



