Chap. VIII.] EXTINCTIOX OF THE " GREAT DYNASTY." .375 



as Malaya, " the region of mountains and torrents,")^ n.c. 

 tlien and at all times exhibited their superiority over ^'^"'• 

 the lowlanders in vigour, courage, and endurance. 

 Hence the petty kingdoms of Maya and Eohuna af- 

 forded on every occasion a refuge to the royal family 

 when driven from the northern capital, and furnished 

 a force to assist in their return and restoration. Wala- 

 gam-bahu, after many years' concealment there, was 

 at last enabled to resume the offensive, and succeeded 

 in driving out the infidels, and recovering possession of 

 the sacred city, an event which he commemorated in 

 the usual manner by the erection of dagobas, tanks, and 

 wiharas. 



THE ALU WIHARA, NEAR MATELLE 



But the achievement by which most of all he entitled 

 himself to the gratitude of the Singhalese annalists, was 

 the reduction to writins; of the doctrines and discourses 

 of Buddha, which had been orally delivered by Mahindo, 

 and previously preserved by tradition alone. These 

 sacred volumes, which may be termed the Buddhist 



^ 3Iahaivanso, ch. vii. 

 B n 4 



