493 



CHAP. vni. 



DOMESTIC LIFE. 



CITIES. Anarajapoora. Striking evidences of the 

 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 Mahawanso, of the 

 " naggaraguttiko" who was conservator of the 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, interments must 

 have frequently taken place, and the nichi-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 feU, B.C. 161. 2 



The capital at that time contained the temples of 

 numerous religions, besides public gardens, and baths ; 

 to which were afterwards added, halls for dancing and 

 music, ambulance halls, rest-houses for travellers 3 , alms- 

 houses 4 , and hospitals 5 ; 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 6 ; another 

 set aside rice to feed the squirrels which frequented his 



1 Mahmvanso, ch. x. p. 65, 66. 



2 Ibid., ch. xxv. p. 155. 



" These rest-houses, like the Choul- 



4 Rock inscription at Pollanarrua. 

 A.D. 1187. 



5 Rajaratnacari, p. 39 ; Mahawanso, 



tries of India, were constructed by ch. x. p. 67 ; HARDY'S Eastern Mo~ 



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



ing highways and forest roads. "Oh 6 Mahmvanso, ch. Ixviii. UPHAM'S 



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



place of wayfaring men." Jer. ix. 2. ! 



