454 



SCIENCES AND SOCIAL ARTS. 



[PART IV. 



strainers" through which the water for the priests was 

 filtered, to avoid taking away the life of animalcule. 

 The other artisans on the establishment were chiefly 

 those in charge of the buildings, lime-burners, plasterers, 

 white-washers, painters, and a chief builder. 



Glass. Glass, the knowledge of which existed in 

 Egypt and in India 1 , was introduced into Ceylon at 

 an early period ; and in the Dipawanso, a work older 

 than the Mahawanso by a century and a half, it is stated 

 that Saidaitissa, the brother of Dutugaimunu, when com- 

 pleting the EuanweUe dagoba, which his predecessor 

 had commenced, surmounted it with a "glass pinnacle." 2 

 This was towards the end of the second century before 

 Christ. Glass is frequently mentioned at later periods ; 

 and a "glass mirror" is spoken of 3 in the third century 

 before Christ, but how made, whether by an amalgam 

 of quicksilver or by colouring the under surface, is not 

 recorded. 



Leather. The tanning of leather from the hide of 

 the buffalo was understood so far back as the second cen- 

 tury before Christ, and " coverings both for the back and 

 the feet of elephants " were then formed of it. 4 



Wood-carving. Carving in sandal-wood and inlaying 

 with ivory, (of which latter material " state fans and 

 thrones" were constructed for the Brazen Palace 5 ,) are 

 often alluded to amongst the mechanical arts ; and during 

 the period of prosperity which signalised the era of the 

 " Great Dynasty," there can be little doubt that skilled 

 artificers were brought from India to adorn the cities and 

 palaces of Ceylon. 



Chemical Arts. A rude knowledge of chemical ma- 



1 Dr. BOYLE'S Lectures an the Arts 

 and Manufactures of India, 1852, p. 

 221. PLINY says the glass of India 

 being made of pounded crystal, none 

 other can compare with it. (Lib. 

 xxxvi. c. 66.) 



2 See post, Vol. I. Part iv. p. 510. 



3 Mahawanso, ch. xv. p. 99, ch. 

 xxx. p. 182. 



4 Ibid., ch. xxv. p. 152, ch. xxix. 

 p. 169. 



5 Ibid., ch. xxvii. p. 103, 164. 



