CHAP. VII. RUINS UF ANCIENT MA HA GAM. 155 



of stone columns stood in parallel rows, the ancient 

 supports of buildings of a similar character to those 

 of Pollanarua and Anarajahpoora. We were among 

 the ruins of ancient Mahagam. One of the ruined 

 buildings had apparently rested upon seventy-two 

 pillars. These were still erect, standing in six lines 

 of twelve columns ; every stone appeared to be about 

 fourteen feet high by two feet square and twenty- 

 five feet apart. This building must therefore have 

 formed an oblong of 300 feet by 1 50. Many of the 

 granite blocks were covered with rough carving ; large 

 flights of steps, now irregular from the inequality of 

 the ground, were scattered here and there ; and the 

 general appearance of the ruins was similar to that of 

 Pollanarua, but of smaller extent. The stone causeway 

 which passed through the ruins was about two miles 

 in length, being for the most part overgrown with low 

 jungle and prickly cactus. I traversed the jungle for 

 some distance until arrested by the impervious nature 

 of the bushes ; but wherever I went, the ground was 

 strewed with squared stones and fallen brickwork- 

 overgrown with rank vegetation. 



The records of Ceylon do not afford any satisfac- 

 tory information concerning the original foundation of 

 this city. The first time that we hear of it is in the 

 year 286 B.C. ; but we have no account of the era or 

 cause of its desertion. Although Mahagam is the 



only vestige of an ancient city in this district, there 



M 



