1847.} The rock temples of Dambool, Ceylon. 343 



The Rajavali,* after informing us that that prince went, with many 

 followers, to Adam's peak, and worshipped there the print of Buddha's 

 foot, adds that " in order to perpetuate his name in Ceylon, he caused 

 the dagobah at Dambool to be built, and having gone there, caused to 

 be made 72,000 figures of Buddha, and the said place he called by the 

 names Rathinda and Boolhinda." 



The word thousand, in the above extract, is probably an embellish- 

 ment of the historian's own, seventy-two alone being mentioned in the 

 incription on the rock, which records that monarch's benefactions, and 

 of which we shall now speak particularly. 



The visitor has been supposed to stand on the ledge of rock imme- 

 diately in front of the caves, after having passed the rough building 

 which serves as an entrance. So situated, the first object which presents 

 itself to him is this inscription on his right hand, deeply graven in the 

 rock in the old Cinghalese character, differing but little from the cha- 

 racter now used. The inscription itself occupies a space about six feet 

 broad, and four in height. It commences by describing in the usual 

 eastern style the monarch whose actions it records, Kriti Nissanga. He 

 is stated in it to be "an invincible warrior," to be endowed with 

 " might, majesty and wisdom," and to be " like the placid moon, 

 radiant, with cheering and benignant qualities." These necessary preli- 

 minaries being ended, it proceeds to inform us that his subjects having 

 been impoverished by inordinate taxes, he enriched them by relinquish- 

 ing his revenue for five years, and by granting to them lands and 

 cattle. It then asserts that besides all this, he rendered all those who 

 cultivated jungle, and thus increased the quantity of cleared land, 

 exempt from all taxation for a considerable period — a provision strik- 

 ingly wise and excellent. The remainder of it, as being less tedious 

 and redundant, I shall quote entire. " He (Nissanga) also made it a 

 rule that when permanent grants of land may be made to those who 

 had performed meritorious services, such behests should not be evane- 

 scent, like lines drawn upon water, by being inscribed on leaves, a 

 material subject to be destroyed by rats and white ants, but that such 

 patents should be engraved on plates of copper so as to endure long 

 unto their respective posterities. 



"Thrice did he make the circuit of the island, and having visited the 

 * Part 4, p. 255. 



2 z 2 



