Chap. I.] THE RANKOT DAGOBA. 591 



though grass grown is clearly discernible by tlic founda- 

 tions of the houses that Une it on either side, the path 

 leads to the Eankot Dagoba \ a sohd mass of circular 

 brickwork, 186 feet in diameter, and apparently about 

 two hundred feet high. 



The destruction of the crust of chunani with wliich 

 the monument was originally coated, has permitted the 

 lodgment of seeds, and the trees and chmbing plants 

 with which it is now covered have fractured it in every 

 direction, and must eventually consunnnate its destruc- 

 tion. One pecuharity which characterises this Dagoba, 

 is the number of small structures resembhng chapels, 

 that are ranged around its base, and Avhich, with their 

 profusion of ornaments, add considerably to tlie pic- 

 turesque appearance of the pile. These, from some 

 expressions in the inscriptions on the great stone tablet, 

 would appear to have been added by King Kirti 

 Mssanga. 



Still advancing along the main street, we come next 

 to an immense edifice of brick, in the highest style of 

 ornamented southern Indian architecture. This is the 

 Jayta-wana-rama, a temple of great dimensions, built 

 by Prakrama Rahu I., after the model, it is said, of one 

 erected by Buddha himself at Kapih-vastu, the place of 



' Called likovrise the Ruan-irelle-sm/e, or " place of o-oldoii dust." 



