493 



CHAP. VIII. 



DOMESTIC LIFE. 



Cities. — Anarajapoora. — Striking evidences of tlie 

 state of civilisation in Ceylon are furnished by the de- 

 scriptions given, both by native writers and by travellers, 

 of its cities as they appeared prior to the 8th century of 

 the Christian era. The municipal organisation of Ana- 

 rajapoora, in the reign of Pandukabhaya, B.C. 437, may 

 be gathered from the notices in the Malutwanso, of the 

 " naggaraguttiko" who was conservator of tlie city, of the 

 "guards stationed in the suburbs," and of the '"chan- 

 dalas," who acted as scavengers and carriers of corpses. 

 As a cemetery was attached to the city, interment must 

 have frequently taken place, and the 7iichi-chandalas are 

 specially named as the " cemetery men ; " ^ but the prac- 

 tice of cremation prevailed in the 2nd century before 

 Christ, and the body of Elala was burned on the spot 

 where he fell, B.C. 161.^ 



The capital at that time contained the temples of 

 numerous religions, besides pubhc gardens, and baths ; 

 to which were afterwards added, halls for dancing and 

 music, ambulance halls, rest-houses for travellers ^, alms- 

 houses ^ and hospitals ^; in which animals, as well as men, 

 were tenderly cared for. The "corn of a thousand fields" 

 was appropriated by one king for their use ^ ; another 



1 Mahaicanso, cli. x. p. 65, 66. I ^ Eock inscription at Pollanarrua, 



^ Ibid., cli. XXV. p. 155. i A.D. 1187. 



^ These rest-houses, like the Chonl- | ^ Rdjaratnacari, p. 39 ; 3Iahmvanso, 



tries of India, were constructed by ch. x. p. 07 ; IIardy's Eastern Mo- 



private liberality along all the lead- nachism, p. 485. 



ing highways and forest roads. **0h j ^ 3I(ihawanso,c\\.\\.\\n. Upham's 



that I had in the wilderness a lodging- version, vol. i. p. 246. 

 place of wayfaring men." — t/tr. i.x. 2. I 



