458 



SCIENCES AND SOCIAL AETS. 



[rAKT IV. 



Christian era, armour for elephants \ and vessels of large 

 dimensions, cauldrons^, and baths ^, were formed of 

 copper. The same material was used for the lamps, 

 goblets \ kettles, and cooking utensils of tiie monasteries 

 and wiliaras. 



Bells. — Bells were hung in the palaces^, and bell-metal 

 is amongst the gifts to the temples recorded on the rock 

 at PoUanarrua, A. D. 1187.^ 



Bronze. — Bronze was cast into figures of Buddha^, and 

 the Mahawanso, describing the reign of Dhatu-Sena, 

 A. D. 459, makes mention of " sixteen bronze statues of 

 virgins having the power of locomotion." ^ 



Lead. — Lead was used during the wars of Dutugai- 

 munu and Elala, and poured molten over the attacldng 

 elephants dming the siege of Wijittapoora.^ As lead is 

 not a native product of Ceylon, it must have been brought 

 thither from Ava or Malwa. 



Gold and Silver. — Ceylon, hke the continent of India, 

 produces no silver and gold, save in the scantiest quan- 

 tities.^^ The historical books, in recording the splendoiu- 

 of the temples and their riches, and the wealth lavished 

 by the kings upon the priesthood, describe in perpetually 

 recurring terms, the multitude of ornaments and vessels 

 made of silver and gold. In early times the most pre- 

 cious of these were received as gifts from the princes of 

 India, and in the second century before Christ the Maha- 

 wanso records the arrival of ships in the south of the 

 island, " laden with golden utensils." The import of 

 these might possibly have been a relic of the early trade 

 with the Phoenicians, Avhom Homer, in a passage quoted 



1 RajavaU, p. 214. 



2 B.C. 204. RajavaU, p. 190. 



^ A.D. 1267. Rajaratnacari, p. 

 104. 



* Rajaratnacari, pp. 104, 134. 



^ MaJunvanso, ch. xxi. pp. 128, 

 129. 



6 TuRNOtTR's E2ntome, Sfc, Appx. 



' A.D. 275. 31ahawanH0, ch. xxxvii. 

 p. 230 ; RajavaU; p. 135. 



^ 3Iahaivanso, ch. xxxviii. p. 257. 



^ Maliawanso, ch. xxv. p. 152. 



'° Amongst the miracles which 

 signalised the construction of the 

 Ruanwell6 dagoba at Auarajapoora 

 was the sudden appearance in a 

 locality, to the north-east of the 

 capital of '' sprouts " of gold above 

 and below the ground, and of silver 

 in the vicinity of Adam's Peak. — ■ 

 Mahaivanso, ch. xxviii. pp. 16G, 167. 



