488 



SCIENCES AND SOCIAL AKTS. 



[PART IV. 



istic which most strongly recommends them, is their 

 careful preservation of the outline and form of the 

 article decorated, notwithstanding the richness and pro- 

 fusion of the ornaments applied. The subjects en- 

 graved are selected with so much judgment, that 

 whilst elaborately covering the surface, they in no 

 degree mar the configuration. Even in later times 

 this principle has been preserved, and the chasings in 

 silver and tortoise shell on the scabbards of the swords 

 of state, worn by the Kandyan kings and their attend- 

 ants, are not surpassed by any specimens of similar 

 workmanship in India. 



Temples, The temples of Buddha were at first as 

 unpretending as the residences of the priesthood. No 

 mention is made of them during the infancy of 

 Buddhism in Ceylon ; when caves and natural grottoes 

 were the only places of devotion. In the sacred 

 books these are spoken of as " stone houses " 1 to dis- 

 tinguish them from the "houses of earth" 2 and other 

 materials used in the construction of the first buildings 

 for the worship of Buddha ; such temples having been 

 originally confined to a single chamber of the humblest 

 dimensions, within which it became the custom at a 

 later period to place a statue of the divine teacher re- 

 clining in dim seclusion, the gloom being increased to 

 heighten the scenic effect of the ever-burning lamps by 

 which the chambers are imperfectly lighted. 



The construction of both these descriptions of 

 temples was improved in later times, but no examples 

 remain of the ancient chaityas or built temples in 

 Ceylon, and those of the rock temples still existing 



1 The King Walagambahu, who in 

 his exile had been living amongst the 

 rocks in the wilderness, ascended the 

 throne after defeating the Malabars 

 (B.C. 104), and "caused the houses of 



stone or caves of the rocks in which he 

 had taken refuge to be made more 

 commodious." Itajavali, p. 224. 

 2 Rajavali, p. 222. 



