140 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



diameter of the disc is 2 feet 8 inches, and the thickness of the slab 

 about 8 inches. It is lying flat upon tlie ground, and is not easy to 

 photograph, but Mr. J. FT. de Saram, C.M.G., whose effort is here 

 reproduced, succeeded admirably. 



2. Stone Pillar from Gampola. — A handsome stone pillar has 

 been recently unearthed and presented to the Colombo Museum by 

 Mr. T. B. Yatawara, Ratemahatmaya. It is carved differently on 

 the four sides. The shaft of the pillar is octagonal, the base and 

 capital square. The basal carvings represent a trisul ornament, 

 a tom-tom beater, a flower vase, and a sedent lion ; at the top there 

 are dancing figures and a peacock. 



The following further information has boon kindly supplied by 

 Mr. J. P. Lewis, Government Agent of the Central Province, who 

 was instrumental in securing the presentation : — 



" One tradition is that Bhuvaneka Bahu V. transferred the seat 

 of government to Kotte (1410), leaving the other members of the 

 royal family at Gampola; and Raja Sinlia I. of Nilambe, when on 

 his way to Sabaragamuwa from Nilambe, received information of 

 the sojourn at Gampola of these royal people, and fearing that 

 they might kill him and take the kingdom had them killed. But 

 one of them, Konnappu Bandara, escaped death, and remained at 

 Gampola disguised as a Buddhist priest, and started to build a 

 palace on a hill at Tiyambara-ambe, commanding a view of the 

 low-country as well as the hill country. Whilst he was building it 

 the king heard of it, and sent ministers to inquire into the matter. 

 Konappu in consequence fled to Colombo, and from thence to Goa. 

 He returned after the death of Raja Sinha, and became king under 

 the title of ^imala Dharmasuriya I. (1592). 



' ' Another tradition is that a prince of Gampola, who was occui)ying 

 tiie palace at Sinhapitiya, found that Raja Sinha's visits to Gampola 

 were too frequent for his safety, and, fearing death, started to build 

 a palace at a spot not easily accessible. For this he chose the hill 

 Eraminiyagammana at Tiyambara-ambe, and removed thither the 

 materials of the old palace ; and when the king heard of it he sent 

 emissaries to kill him. The prince was warned of this by somebody, 

 and he fled from the place. The king's men pulled down what was 

 erected and went away. 



" This pillar is one of the four that have been found at the spot. 



" Tiyambara-ambe is a village situated 9 miles from Gampola on 

 the Gampola-Kurunduwatta road in Gangaihala korale." 



