CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 85 



truth of this statement : first, the use of the Nagari instead of 

 the Pali or Singhalese characters in the inscriptions; secondly, 

 the figures of Hindoo deities being stamped on them, and 

 not the device of either the sun, or lion, which were the 

 peculiar arms of the Wijayan Sovereigns ; and lastly, the 

 omission of all mention in the history of the Kings who 

 reigned at Dambadeniya, regarding the establishment of a 

 mint there, under their Government. While, however, I 

 reject the claims of the Singhalese to a Singhalese origin of 

 these coins, I am sorry I have nothing certain to offer in its 

 room. If a conjecture may be hazarded, I should be inclined 

 to trace their origin to some of the Tamil Kings who had 

 possession of the Island at one time. On my shewing one 

 of the coins to a Hindoo goldsmith from Kailpatnam, a few 

 years ago, he informed me, that it was supposed in his part 

 of the country to have been the coinage of a certain Chola 

 prince, named Allala. May it not be possible that this 

 Allala was the Ellala or Ellaro of the Singhalese, who " in- 

 vading this island from the Chola country, for the purpose 

 of usurping the sovereignty, and putting to death the reign- 

 ing King Aselo, ruled over the kingdom for forty years,"* 

 and who might have struck the coins in question, in comme- 

 moration of his splendid conquests in Ceylon. If this 

 hypothesis could be admitted, it would fix the date of these 

 coins between the years B. C. 205 and 161. 



Wishing your Society every success in the prosecution of 

 its laudable objects. 



I remain, Sir, 

 Your obedient humble servant, 

 Simon Casie Chetty* 



Calpentyn 3 September 8, 1845, 



* Tumour's Mahawanso, p, 128. 



