Metrical An7iah of the Cingalese, 395 



in request, and therefore the most valuable, costs in Ceylon 

 about £70 to £75, 



To the kindness and active interest in our objects of Mr. 

 Wilson, in whose agreeable villa at Mootwall — the plan and 

 method of construction of which reminded us of the beau- 

 tiful planters' houses on the sugar estates of Louisiana — we 

 spent the last night of our stay at Colombo, we are also 

 indebted for a copy, with which he presented us, of the most 

 ancient annals of Ceylon, inscribed with an iron graver upon 

 Talipot palm-leaves in the highly-esteemed Pali language, and 

 preserved between richly-carved boards of the costly wood 

 of the Kalamander tree {Diospyrus Hirsuta). This care- 

 fully-preserved MS. includes, among others, the celebrated 

 epic poem "Mahawanso," (an abbreviation "Mahantaman 

 Wanso," " Genealogy of mighty men,") which recites under 

 100 heads, and in 9175 verses, the most important events 

 connected with the interior constitution and history of the 

 island, as also of all the battles fought by the inhabitants in 

 foreign countries from b.c. 543 to the year 1758, a.d. Of 

 these, the most renowned historic relics of the Cingalese, 38 

 chapters, of 262 pages 4to, w^ere translated into English by 

 George Tumour, Esq., an eminent Pali scholar, and printed 

 at Ceylon, in the year 1837. Unfortunately, his earnest 

 desire to publish the rest of this highly-interesting work was 

 destined not to be gratified. The grave closed over him ere 

 he could realize his wish. At present, however, there is a 

 prospect of the translation of the " Mahawanso " being com- 



