SINHALESE EARTHENWARE. 135 
SINHALESE EARTHENWARE. 
[Second Paper.*] 
By Ananpa K. Coomaraswamy, D.Sc. 
M* S. D. Mahawalatenna has kindly forwarded me some 
traditional verses describing the potters’ art and craft. | 
believe that a knowledge of the crafts was often handed down in 
such mnemonic verses, preserving the continuity of tradition and 
ensuring adherence to well-tried and proved methods of work. 
Mat weavers have craft songs corresponding to this potters song ; 
technical recipes (not only medicines) are sometimes recorded in 
mnemonic verses, as also are traditional fragments of history, dates 
of erection of buildings, &c.; instructions for building operations 
are given in Mayimataya, Gewalshadwargaya, &c., and painting 
and image making are treated of in Rupavaliya and Sariputra. The 
two last are Sanskrit works, and the current versions of Mayimataya 
is doubtless a translation from a Sanskrit original. On the other 
hand I cannot find that any songs exist connected with iron smelt- 
ing or steel manufacture and many other trades ; but this may 
be because they have been forgotten, or because I have not been 
able to obtain them. 
Of course a song like that here given is of quite a popular charac- 
ter; the Sanskrit works referred to are on a different footing in 
many respects. 
I now give the pottery song, and after it a translation. 
1. 761.90 5HEQOD BADE O, HAO O,5OQNIE EHD w ang 
570s BacO@ O15emME wo ggacdasld 08 ang 
Sud F1Eq@o OHS} FDIUGO=H DE GuMEd ALK ane 
DEQQS Qanad) OLS ME Deq@? Six GOH) oa ons 
2. Be@ O5Me Aigo DIO®D RADigg VeoG ama on 
GaE) B10 O8DIDSO Gold OQs1E00 FDod Oc O38 
ODQIOGH O,5 HGH10 DOAad Dons gad pGocst 
OMEOnDS 
OHNEQosl BS OM5ORD SODA FRE) 19H ODEs 

* The first paper will be found in Spolia Zeylanica Vol. IV., pt. XIII, 
1906, and should be consulted before the present one is read. 
T 10(4)06 
