and the Hill Temple of Mehentélé. 477 
which I did not visit, and which is stated to have been used for watering the 
elephants belonging to the temple. Near the dagoba, built by king BAATEa, 
there was a large vessel of grey close-grained granite, three feet in depth, 
five feet ten inches in width, and nine feet six inches in length, equal in 
beauty of finish to any thing of the kind in the Vatican ; its only ornament 
consisted of pilasters, becoming narrower towards their bases and surmount- 
ed by a broad capital with slight mouldings, much resembling the Grecian 
style. It was intended to hold hot rice for the pilgrims. Whilst occupied 
at this dagoba, a rustling in the wood attracted my attention, when I 
saw an alligator of considerable size, which had been disturbed, and was 
hurrying into a deep hole in a pool of water; he made a plunge, disappeared 
totally, and the weeds and leaves on the surface quietly closed, leaving no 
trace of him. He appeared like the spirit of desolation and decay. 
Frequent mention is made of these dagobas in the three histories, from 
which I shall make a few extracts : 
In the Réjaratnacari it is stated, that Bupp’uHa sat down and preached at 
the place called Tapé Rama, and Tapé Rama is mentioned as one of eight 
places consecrated by former Bupp’nas having sat down upon them. 
In the Rgavali, Dewan Patisse is mentioned as “having also caused the 
right jaw of Bupuu to be brought from the heavenly world Sacraia Chawdna, 
and built upon the same a daggoba, which was called Tupa Rama ;” and in 
the Mahdvansi, it is stated that ‘* seven days after the death of Bupuu, the 
dawtoo was placed in a magnificent temple made for that purpose, as will 
appear in the history called Toopaw rama Cawtawa.” 
Of Lanca Rama I have not been able to find any notice, neither have I 
succeeded in tracing any reference to the second dagoba, which is of a 
similar character, on which I can place reliance. With reference to Merisa- 
welle, I find in the Mahdvansi, that king DorGcément caused to be built 
the temple Merisa wette Miharaya ; and in the Réjavali, that king Cawan- 
TISsA was succeeded by his son Doricémentrisa. “ In his reign it came to 
pass that the holy and beautiful city of Anaradhe Pura Nuwara was filled 
with filth and corruption, the beautiful monument was razed to the ground, 
and the sacred spot filled with excrements and filthiness. The holy temples 
were not only broken down, but also made into seats of defilement; the 
images of Bupuu were utterly destroyed, and the wicked ravagers were like 
no other than ravenous brute beasts. When they met the princes, they spat 
upon their garments; their vessels they snatched from them and broke into 
3Q2 
