188 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



Prior to the introduction of petroleum, oils extracted from the 

 coconut and some other wild products of the country formed the 

 sole illuminant in use among the Sinhalese. Their lamps were 

 almost exclusively made of brass, and could either be suspended or 

 placed on a stand ; both these kinds are well represented. It is of 

 interest to note that in the case of the liangmg lamps the container 

 is placed above the level of the wick, the oil trickling doAvn through 

 a small opening which communicates with the latter. That these 

 lamps have been largely influenced in their design by the Arabs and 

 Portuguese seems apparent. For instance, the dove shown in the 

 illustration is such as one would expect to find m a Christian church ; 

 several hundred Portuguese prisoners were employed as artisans 

 under the Sinhalese Idngs at the beginning of the seventeenth 

 century. 



The tall standards are usually employed in temples, and frequently 

 bear the device of the god to which they are dedicated, e.g., the 

 peacock. These lamps consist of two tiers of wicks with a receptacle 

 at the bottom for any oil which might overfloAv ; some are made 

 adjustable by a simple screw device, and others can be suspended 

 by means of a massive and ornamental chain , crowned with a small 

 canopy. Some of these lamps are of considerable beauty, the wick 

 holders resting upon well-wrought branches. Among the lamps are 

 shown specimens of the kind used in the ceremonial of the Hindu 

 temple. These are meant to contain a large number of wicks in 

 shallow receptacles, and the whole, when lit, is waved before the 

 sacred image and the oil poured on the ground, (See Plates 

 XXXIX. and XL.) 



EAST VERANDAH (Room E). 



The stone carvings here were excavated from Maligawatta , Cotta . 

 Kotte Jayawardhanapura was built circa 1356-71, and became the 

 seat of Government 1391-1581. 



There is also a stone carved pillar (1410-15 a.d.) from the king's 

 palace at Gampola, presented by Mi-. T. B. Yatawara, Ratemahat- 

 maya of Udapalata. 



STAIRCASE. 



On the landing of the mam staircase in the Central Hall there are 

 two cases containing china. Most of the contents of these cases 

 have been lent by Mrs. Meaden, Mr. E. B. Denham, C.C.S., 

 m. Paul Pieris, C.C.S., Mi\ H. P. Belmg, and Dr.C. T. van Geyzel. 

 No porcelain of any value has been made in Ceylon. During the 

 Dutch period vast quantities of Chinese porcelain were introduced. 

 At present the valuable pieces that still remain m the country are 

 mainly of Chinese manufacture. Smce the British occupation many 

 of the best kinds of English china have been mtroduced. In order 

 to make this collection as educative as possible it has been thought 

 advisable to display specimens of all the well known kinds of china 

 and porcelain, even though they have no historic connection with 

 Ceylon. 



A painted Hindu cloth is .shown at the head of the main staircase. 



