Chap. V.] WORKING IN METALS. 459 



by Strabo (1. xvi. c. 2. s. 24.), describes as making these 

 cups, and carrpng across the sea for sale in the great 

 emporiums \dsited by these ships. ^ A variety of articles 

 of silver are spoken of at very early periods. Dutu- 

 gaimunu, when building the great dagoba, caused the 

 chcle of its base to be described by " a pair of com- 

 passes made of silver, and pointed with gold ; " ^ parasols, 

 vases, caranduas and numerous other regal or relisiious 

 paraphernalia, were made from this precious material. 

 Gold was appUed in every possible form and combination 

 to the decoration and furnishing of the edifices of Bud- 

 dliism ; — " trees of gold with roots of coral," ^ flowers 

 formed of gems with stems of silver ^, fringes of bulhon 

 mixed with pearls ; umbrellas, shields, chams, and jew- 

 elled statuettes ^, are described with enthusiasm by the 

 annalists of tlie national worship. 



The abundance of precious stones naturally led to their 

 being extensively mounted in jewelry, and in addition to 

 those found in Ceylon, diamonds ^ and lapis lazuh " (which 

 must have been brought thither from India and Persia) 

 are classed with the sapplure and the topaz, which are 

 natives of the island. 



The same passion existed then, as now, for covering 

 the person with ornaments ; gold, silver, and gems 

 were fashioned into rings for the ears, the nose, the 

 fingers, and toes, into plates for the forehead, and chains 

 for the neck, into armlets, and bracelets, and anklets, 

 and into decorations of every possible form, not only for 

 the women, but for men, and, above all, for the cliildren 

 of both sexes. The poor, unable to indulge in the 

 luxury of precious metals, found substitutes in shells 

 and glass ; and the extravagance of the taste was de- 



* Mahawanso, ch. xxii. p. 153. I from the MediteiTanean, is found in 



'Aiyi^iot «?--!T?{a nTuy/j.-iov .... Small fragments on the sea-shore 



. . . 2;S»£,- ,ro>.vb^:hc.?.o. vT mK-^^a.,, wQxWx of Poiut-de-Galle 



Srv-irav h'iv >.if^ivitr<ri, S.C Iliad, xxiii. 745 



- Makmcanso, ch. xxx. p. 172. 

 3 I\ed coral, equal in its delicacy 

 of tint to the highly-prized specimens 



"* 3Iahawanso, ch. xxx. p. 179. 



^ 3Iahaicanso, ih. p. 180. 



" lidjaratnacari, p. Gl. 



'' Mahawanso, ch. xxx. p. 182. 



