( 27 ) 



father King Dhatu Sen, whose capital was Anuradhapura. Kasyapa 

 made Sigiriya his capital, and took refuge there for eighteen years. 

 On the western face of the rock chambers have been scooped 

 out, and in one of these, 160 feet from the ground, protected from 

 sun and rain, ancient frescoes were painted upon stucco plastered 

 upon the smooth surface, and still remain in an excellent state 

 of preservation. The ancient approaches to the summit and to 

 the chambers having fallen into decay, the rock once more 

 became nearly inaccessible and, according to local tradition, the 

 haunt of "yakku" ordemons. It was however tackled by more than 

 one adventurous climber during the latter half of last century, 

 and in June, 1889, Mr. Alex. Murray of the Public Works Depart- 

 ment succeeded in reaching the pocket containing the frescoes 



and in making the tracings of them, which he coloured as nearly as 

 possible like the originals. He has left it upon record that the work 

 of copying took him from sunrise to sunset every day for a week 

 lying at full length on his back. A Buddhist priest who visited 

 the chamber gave it as his opinion that the pictures must be the 

 portraits of some of King Kasyapa's queens. The portraits are 

 arranged singly and in couples, the latter representing a maid 

 offering the sacred lotus on a tray to her mistress. 



During the last ten years excavations have been carried on at 

 Sigiriya under the direction of the Archaeological Commissioner, 

 and fresh copies of the frescoes have been made under his super- 

 vision in oil colours, but these have not yet been exhibited in the 

 Museum. 



