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two drumsfastened together as kettle drums ; Demala-bere, Tamil 

 tom-tom ; Yak-bere, demon tom-tom. The Rabana is beaten by 

 women seated in a group round it on occasions of family rejoicing. 



Among the stringed instruments are to be noted the Wenawa or 

 Vina, the Indian lute, an instrument with a good twang, the 

 resonator consisting of a cocoanut shell with a skin stretched 

 across it. The Bandarinha and Viola, presented by H. Holsinger, 

 Esq., are used by the Mechanics* of Ceylon to accompany their 

 Lusitanian dances. 



There are also a couple of marionettes, employed in a form of 

 entertainment much in vogue among the Sinhalese. 



Other exhibits in the Central Hall include two stands of Kaildyail 

 spears with lacquered shafts, together with Kandyan blunderbusses 

 and processional fans. 



On the top of Case VIII. there is an interesting relic of the early 

 conflicts between the British and the Kandyans in the form of a 

 British drum said to have been captured by the latter. 



On a small stand at the foot of the staircase there are some 

 antique cannon balls, probably of Portuguese origin, which were 

 unearthed at Medamahanuwara, near Kandy, a place which is 

 noted for the existence of a cave in which the last King of Kandy 

 took refuge after his flight from the British, and where he was 

 captured in 1815. 



MEDI/EVAL ROOM. 



CASE IX. 



Ivory Carving's. — This case contains a varied and valuable 

 collection of objects made principally of ivory. The specimens 

 which are worthy of attention include fan handles in ivory and 

 ebony, combs, panels, dagabas, &c. 



The large boxes are carved and shaped after Dutch designs. 



The art of making the compressible scent sprinklers is 

 said to be a secret confined to one family of ivory workers 

 in the Kegalla District. The little figures of the last King of 

 Kandy, two of his Ministers or Adigars, and the Chief Priest 

 are said to be contemporary portraits. Sri Wikrama Raja Sinha 

 was the last king of the Suluwansa or Lower Dynasty. He 

 came to the throne of Kandy in 1798 and reigned until 1815, 

 when he was deposed chiefly on account of his cruelty. The ivory 

 statuettes of £lielapola and his wife are also of considerable interest. 

 Ehelapola became First Adigar of the King of Kandy in 1812. He 



* The Mechanics of Ceylon are a class of artisans, shoemakers, tailors,blacksmiths, 

 craftsmen of Portuguese descent, speaking- a lingo of their own, Portuguese with 

 an admixture of Tamil and Sinhalese. Cf. Mr. C. M. Fernaudo's article on the 

 Music of Ceylon in Journ. Ceylon R. Asiat. Soc, vol. XIII., 1893-1894, pp. 183-189- 



C 105-04 



