180 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



some of the latter being cut out of a single piece. An earring of 

 gold found at Halloluwa is among the most beautiful in the collec- 

 tion ; the gems with which this had been originally set — white and 

 purple and green in colour — have fortunately been preserved, and 

 give us a clear idea of the best style of mediaeval jewellery ; but 

 it is impossible to characterize the work as Sinhalese. These heavy 

 earrmgs were worn, not only by women, but also by the men, as 

 may be seen from the plaster cast of the statue of Parakrama Bahu 

 the Great in the Stone Gallery. The custom among men fell into 

 disuse towards the end of the seventeenth century. 



The variety of ear ornaments still in use among the Sinhalese in the 

 inland districts is very great, the ear being bored at half a dozen 

 different points to receive the various articles. The large bamboo - 

 shaped todu, of filigree or jewelled, serve to enlarge the perforated 

 lobe of the ear. Koppu are thrust through the cartilage, and some 

 charming specimens of these set with rubies and pearls are shown in 

 the collection. But the details of the ear ornaments are essentially 

 Tamil. The same remark apphes to the richly chased armlets. 

 The large rings, usually worn by chiefs on the middle finger of the left 

 hand, appear to be a peculiarity of the Sinhalese ; they are in some 

 cases over 2| inches across. The smaller ones are either of silver or 

 copper gilt, and do not display much artistic merit. In necklaces, 

 which were worn both by men and women, the silversmith had to 

 exert himself to economize the precious metal ; the Museum collec- 

 tion of these is not extensive. The large coral beads should be 

 noted ; these have been popular with the Sinhalese since the time 

 of their early introduction by Arab traders. 



Case 40. 



The purely Tamil ornaments are well represented in Case 40. The 

 queue-shaped headdress, which is attached to the knot of hair and 

 hangs down the back till it terminates in three black tassels fitted 

 into golden cups, is an excellent specimen of Tamil work. The 

 necklaces set with cabochon rubies, usually imported from India, 

 are also in use among the Sinhalese ; though not the belts of silver, 

 a handsome specimen of which appears in the same case. The 

 Jaffna silversmith is well spoken of for the beauty of his filigree 

 work, but the art is purely South -Indian. 



The massive anklets and other silver foot ornaments are as a rule 

 worn by Moorish women. As all through the world, these rejoice in 

 the Aveight of metal which they carry about their person, as can be 

 well judged from the gold neck ornament described as a tali in 

 Case 41. 



Case 41. 



Before leaving the purely Oriental jewellery the visitor's attention 

 is also drawn to the photograph on the side of Case 45 of a chain 

 belonging to the Sinhalese king in the middle of the eighteenth 

 centur}^ and which is now preserved at the shrine of the Sacred 

 Tooth at Kandy. Sixty-four ornaments and the crown were 

 necessary items of royal attire. The Sinhalese loved colour and 

 abhorred glitter. His rubies and his sapphires were always cut 

 cabochon and set on coloured wax so as to secure evenness. Strange 

 tales have been preserved by the European and Chinese writers of the 



