t\'EST AND SOUTH COASTS OP CEYLON. 45I 



an oblong fquare, with a veranda, fupported by fquare- 

 brick piilars, and covered with leaves of the cocoa- 

 nut tree. Situated on an eminence and furrounded 

 by trees. Near it, on the eaft fide, is a triple-rooted 

 buildi'iig, called Beinamadoo, in form like apigeon-houfe 

 and covered with Cajam, in which the precepts of 

 BuddHa are read to his votaries at feftivals and other 

 times of affemblage. No Daghope*'. The former 

 Veehar at this place was deftroyed by the Portuguefe^ and 

 the prefent ere6led by Digumber Siddart Buddha, 

 the old priell who now fuperintends it, about forty 

 years ago. This Veehar, befides two large figures of 

 yanitcrs at the entrance, and various paintings on tha 

 wall within the veranda, hiftorical and mythological, 

 contains a coloffal image of Buddha, eighteen cu- 

 bits in length, compofed of earth and cement, in a 

 fleeping pollure; or rather reclining on his lotos 

 throne," his head reftinor on a pillow, and fupported by 

 the right arm, whilft the left is extended on the thigh 

 of the fame fide. He has the fame tiara, ear-rings, and 

 curled hair, as all the other images I have feen, and, 

 with no unpleafing afpedt, is painted of an azure brown 

 complexion; whilft other images in the fame temple 

 are of a dulky yellow colour. His mantle, which near- 

 ly covers him (the right bread only excepted) is yeU 

 low, the general colour of the Sewara, though on one 

 of the images in this temple it is a dark orange, ap- 

 proaching to red. Before this figure is the principal 

 altar; and, befides flowers of feveral kinds, there were 

 upon it above a dozen fmall brafs figures of the god, 

 (one of which the prieft gave met, at my particular 

 delire, after having prefentcd my offering; though not 

 without an evident ftruggle with his feelings, which 



* The folid moaunrental building before mentionec^, afid reprefented 

 iii ths Plate, No. i, accompanying Captain Mackenzie's paper. Its 

 deficiency at the temple of BtrDoKA here defcribed is fmgular; as it 

 appears a general appendage to a Veehar, Whether it has any connexion 

 with the pyramids of Egypt we yet want evidence to determine. 



t The fitting figsre m. the accompanying Plate^ No, z. 



G g 2 \/ere 



o 



