CEYLON BRANCH — -ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



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and it is the frequency of such pieces from the Arabic muse, 

 which made Carlyle exclaim, in the preface to his " specimen 

 <s of Arabian poetry." — " True taste in composition is by no 

 " means restricted to certain ages or climates, for it is no 

 (( more than good sense directed to a particular object, and 

 " will be found in every country, which is arrived at that 

 i( point in civilization where barbarism has ceased, and 

 " fantastic refinement not yet begun. : ' 



The literature of Ceylon affords one of the strongest col- 

 lateral proofs of its early civilization. In disputing the 

 civilization of the Hindus, Mr. Mill (in his History of India) 

 strongly insists on the want of any regular Historical works 

 in Hindu literature, as a certain proof that they had never 

 advanced to that stage of civilization, at which mythological 

 tales are banished from it, and regular History introduced. 

 If then, the want of such works proves the inferiority of that 

 nation, their existence in Singhalese literature proves the 

 advancement of the people whence they emanated. Three 

 distinct historical works (the Mahawanse, the Raj aval i, and 

 the Rajah Ratnacarij have been rendered accessible to the 

 English reader by means of translations, and add the weight 

 of their testimony and their coincidence, to the many other 

 evidences of the ancient civilization of the Island ; others 

 such as the Poojavalli and Neekasanga, also exist, and in 

 these we have an interesting account of a long line of 

 Sovereigns, and of the usual events of all history, — murders, 

 rebellions, injustice and rapines, — not unmingled, however, 

 with the virtues of civilized life. Many are disposed to con- 

 demn these works as uninteresting, and useless, from finding 

 their patience too severely tried at first, by the accounts of 

 Deities, and miracles which they cannot understand, and 

 which may be to them, at least, both profitless and tedious ; 

 yet it must not be supposed that they are so to all, and to the 

 native mind, they would unquestionably be some of the most 

 important passages in the volume. There is a peculiarity^ 



