Chap. II.] 



THE AMBUSTELLA DAGOBA. 



607 



the capitals of which are ornamented by camngs of 

 the sacred goose." Close beside it is a broken statue 



MIHINTALA. 



of the pious monarch. The cells are still remaining 

 which, according to the Mahawanso, Devenipiatissa 

 caused to be hollowed in the rock^, and near them is 

 the Nagasandhi tank made for the priesthood by King 

 Aggrabodhi, a. d. 589.^ Thence the last flight of steps 

 leads to the siuumit of Ambatthalo crowned by the 

 Etwihara dagoba, a semicircular pile of brick work one 

 hundred feet high, wdiich enshrines a single hair from 

 the forehead of Buddha. This remarkable structure 

 has stood for upwards of eighteen centuries. It was 

 built by Baatiya Eaja about the first year of the 



* For the honours paid to the 

 goose, see Vol. I. Pt. iv. ch. vii. p. 

 485. 



* Mahnwanso, ch. xii. p. 

 Rqjavali, p. 184. 



' MahuwanAo. ch. xlii. 



10.'3: 



