Chap. X.] TIIR DO.MINATIOX OF TIIK ^FAI.ABARS. ^99 



and urgiiuised a naval force for the protection uf the a.d. 

 coasts ^ of the island. ^l^- 



But his vigorous policy produced no permanent 

 effect ; his son Mogallana, after the murder of his father 

 and the usurpation of Kasyapa, tied for refuge to the 

 coast of India, and subsequently recovered possession of 

 the throne, by the aid of a force which he collected there.- 

 In the succession of assassinations, conspkacies, and civil 

 wars which distracted the kingdom in the sixth and 

 seventh centuries, during the struggles of the rival 

 branches of the royal house, each claimant, in his adver- 

 sity, betook himself to the Indian continent, and Malabar 

 mercenaries from Pandya and Soh em-olled themselves in- 

 differently under any leader, and deposed or restored 

 kings at their pleasure."^ 



The Rajavali^ in a single passage enumerates fourteen a.d. 

 sovereigns who were mm'dered each by his successor, be- ^2^- 

 tween a.d. 523, and a.d. 648. During a period of such 

 violence and anarchy, peaceful industry was suspended, 

 and extensive emigrations took place to Bahar and Orissa. 

 Buddhism, however, was still predominant, and protection 

 was accorded to its professors. 



Hiouen Thsang, a Chinese traveller, wno visited a.d. 

 India between 629 a.d. and 645 '^, encountered nmn- 640. 

 bers of exiles, who informed hun that they fled from 

 ci\dl commotions in Ceylon, in which religion had 

 undergone persecution, the king had lost his hfe, cidti- 

 vation had been interrupted, and the island exhausted 

 by famine. This account of the Chinese voyager 

 accords accurately with the events detailed in the 

 Sinolialese annals, in wliich it is stated that Sanoliatissa 

 was dejDOsed and murdered, a.d. 623, by the Seneriwat, 



^ 3Iahaicanso, cli. xxxviii. p. 2o6. | * Ilistoire de la Vie de Hiouen 

 and xxxix. Turxour's MS., Trans. I TJisaiu/, et de ses Voycu/es dans FLide 



Tuuxour's Epitome, p. 29 ; Ra- 

 jarali, p. 244. 



^ Turnoitr's Epitome, p. .31. Ita- 

 javali, p. 247. 



dcpiiis Van G20 Jasqu'en G43. Prt 

 IIoEi-Ll et Yex-Thsaxg, 4'y'. Tra- 

 ditife dit CJti/iois par Sxaxislaus 

 JuLiEN, Paris, I80.3. 



