SINHALESE EARTHENWARE. V7 
finials, imposing lampstands or moulded eaves-tiles, the potter’s 
ordinary wares have not changed much, either lately, or probably 
even for a very long time. We may congratulate ourselves then 
that Sinhalese pottery has so far degenerated very little; this 
is mainly because it isso cheap and so intimately adapted to 
local requirements as not to invite the competition of imported 
machine-made wares. Unfortunately, however, the kerosine tin 
has made some progress, and is commonly seen in use instead 
of a kalagediya. This is pitiful, but less fatal than a degeneration 
of form in the kalagediya itself. The growing use of Basel 
Mission and Mangalore tiles is more to be regretted, no less 
on the score of comfort than of appearance ; an ancient building 
re-covered with such tiles, perhaps subscribed for at considerable 
cost by poor village contributors to some vihara funds, is robbed of 
most of its distinctive character. Is it too much to ask those con- 
cerned to take a little trouble and exercise some thought in dealing 
with such buildings? Now that the old sumptuary laws forbidding 
tiled roofs to any but Disawas are no longer in force, the builder of a 
new house might even, if he cared to do so, make it beautiful by 
giving due consideration to its roof. Unfortunately the elements 
of beauty or dignity, which may enter into even such homely matters, 
are the last which are likely to influence him ; and at the same time 
the capacity for good work in making and laying tiles is dying out, 
so that it is increasingly difficult to get it, and a majority 
of persons are scarcely aware that good work ever was done, or can 
recognize it when they see it. I need hardly add that this applies 
with equal or even greater force to almost every aspect of old Sin- 
halese art. 
Explanation of Plates A, B, and C. 
SINHALESE EARTHENWARE FROM KanpyAn Districts, 
Plate AA—MANUFACTURE OF EARTHENWARE. 
1. Potters at work in verandah of house; a muttiya on the wheel, 
etili behind, between the potters. Dumbara. 
2. Completing the underside of a némbiliya ; muttiya holding 
water seen on worker’s right. 4 
3. Painting red stripes on kalagediya ; other kalagedi in the fore- 
ground, stacks of mutti behind ; potter working in house verandah. 
Madampe. 
4. Scoring furrows inside némbili and koras (photographs 2 and 4 
taken outside potter’s shed owing to darkness of interior), Balangoda. 
D 10(2)06 
