404 THE SINGHALESE CHRONICLES. [Part III. 



CHAP XI. 



THE EEIGN OF PEAKRAMA BAHU. 



A.D. From the midst of this gloom and despondency, with 

 ^^'^^- usurpation successful in the only province where even 

 a semblance of patriotism survived, and a foreign enemy 

 universally dominant thronghout the rest of Ceylon, 

 there suddenly arose a dynasty which dehvered the 

 island from the sway of the Malabars, brought back its 

 ancient wealth and tranquiUity, and for the space of a 

 century made it pre-eminently prosperous at home and 

 victorious in expeditions by which its rulers rendered it 

 respected abroad. 



The founder of this new and vigorous race was a 

 member of the exiled family, who, on the death of 

 Lokaiswara, was raised to the throne under the title of 

 Wijayo Bahu.^ Dissatisfied with the narrow hmits of 

 Eohuna, he resolved on rescuing Pihiti from the usurp- 

 ing strangers ; and, by the courage and loyalty of his 

 mountaineers, he recovered the ancient capitals from the 

 Malabars, compelled the whole extent of the island to 

 acknowledge his authority, reunited the several king- 

 doms of Ceylon under one national banner, and, "for 

 the security of Lanka against foreign invasion, placed 

 trustworthy chiefs at the head of paid troops, and 

 stationed them round the coast." ^ Thus signaUy suc- 

 cessful at home, the fame of his exploits " extended 



* A.D. 1071. I ratnacari, p. 58 ; Rajnvali, p. 251 ; 



2 Mahawanso, cli. lix. ; Raja- \ Turnouk's Eintome, p. 39. 



