31. Lala—A Note.! 
By H. C. Ray. 
It is generally believed in Bengal that prince Wisse § the 
traditional conqueror of the beautiful island oe lon is a 
Bengali. The origin of this belief as far as is kno tg me is 
contained in the Buddhist Chronicles of Ceylon sihick describe 
the story of the early conquest and settlement of the civilized 
races in the Lanka dvipa. The belief has become so very general 
that it has entered in the popular songs and ballads of this 
province. We give below a brief summary of the story from 
the Mahavamsa : 2 
the country of the Vangas in the Vanga capital 
there inal once a king of the Vangas. The daughter of 
forests of the Lala country. The lion begot on her a son, 
Sihavahu and a daughter Sihasivali. After slaying his 
a hundred BE and reigned over the kingdom of 
Lala. His eldest son Viaws banished for his lawlessness 
sailed with a band of 700 followers from Sihapura and at 
first ‘landed at the haven called Supparaka’ but continuing 
his voyage he came to Lanka very shortly before the 
death of the Tathagata. 
It will be noticed that in the story prince ee got is represent- 
ed to bea son of Sihavahu the King of Lala what is Lala ? 
Scholars are far from unanimous in their Phar ec of this 
country. Childers, Goldsemidt and Kuhn considered it as a 

Since then Dr. Ray- 
ber last. 
! This note on Lala was written in Octo Vol. Z in oe 
chowdhury in reviewing The Cambridge History of arise 
Calcutta Review for December, 1922, has come to m lus 
however publishing this note because it sets forth in "gall the raves which 
lead to that conclusion fee also because it contains in br ief the references 
to me previous discussion of this question. 
.T.S. Trans. i ., pp- 51-54. 
; Ind. Aat., Vole XI, p: 108; note#: Vol XIE, pp 04-05 Om PS’ 
: . 105; Bournouf Recherches sur la Géograp ie 
lon, p. 61; J.B.A.S. New cite Vol. I 
. a also takes Lala in the sense of Ra 
Mookerjee Silver Jubilee Volumes, Vol. III, Orientalia, part 1, 
TR 
a 
<< 
Q 
& 
ag 
oO 
| 
© 
i=} 
Qu 
ies) 
ae 
io} 
