CHAP. XI.] THE KEIGN OF PEAKEAMA BAKU. 



409 



thirteen hundred and ninety-five, and the smaller ones A.D. 

 which he restored or enlarged to nine hundred and 1155 - 

 sixty. Besides these, by damming up the rivers, he made 

 five hundred and thirty-four watercourses and canals, 

 and he repaired three thousand six hundred and twenty- 

 one. 1 



The bare enumeration of such labours conveys an 

 idea of the prodigious extent to which structures of 

 this kind had beCh multiplied by the early kings; and 

 we are enabled to form an estimate of the activity of 

 agriculture in the twelfth century, and the vast popula- 

 tion whose wants it supplied, by the thousands of reser- 

 voirs still partially used, though in ruins; and the still 

 greater number now dry and deserted, and concealed 

 by dense jungle, in districts once waving with yellow 

 grain. Such was the internal tranquillity which -per- 

 vaded Ceylon under his rule, that an inscription, engraved 

 by one of his successors, on the rock of Dambool, after 

 describing the general peace and "security which he 

 established, as well in the wilderness as in the inhabited 

 places," records that, "even a woman might traverse 

 the island with a precious jewel and not be asked what it 

 was." 2 



In the midst of these congenial operations the energetic 

 king had command of military resources, sufficient not 



1 The useful ambition of signalising 

 their reign by the construction of 

 works of irrigation, is still exhibited 

 by the Buddhist sovereigns of the 

 East ; and the king of Burraah in his 

 interview with the British envoy in 

 1855, advanced his exploits of this 

 nature as his highest claim to distinc- 

 tion. The conversation is thus re- 

 ported in YULE'S Narrative of the 

 Mission. London, 1858. 



" King. Have you seen any of the 

 royal tanks at Oung-ben-le', which 

 have recently been constructed ? 



" Envoy. I have not been yet, your 

 Majesty, but I purpose going. 



" King. I have caused ninety-nine 

 tanks and ancient reservoirs to be 



dug and repaired ; and sixty-six 

 canals : whereby a great deal of rice 

 land will be available. * * * In 

 the reign of Nauraba-dzyar 9999 

 tanks and canals were constructed : 

 I purpose renewing them." P. 109. 

 2 Moore's melody, beginning 



" Rich and rare were the gems she wore," 



was founded on a parallel figure 

 illustrative of the security of Ireland 

 under the rule of King Brien ; when, 

 according to Warner, " a maiden 

 undertook a journey alone, from one 

 extremity of the kingdom to another, 

 with only a wand in her hand, at the 

 top of which was a ring of exceeding 

 great value." 



