106 CEYLON BE ANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



combustibles, he burnt it throughly, so that it became of a 

 beautiful red colour, appeared like a golden beetle, and was 

 sonorous like a bell. 



Some time after this, Budha descended from the eagle-nest 

 mountain, attended by many of his priests, and seeing the 

 hut enquired to whom it belonged. Upon being informed 

 he severely animadverted on it, and said, this silly man has 

 acted in a manner very wrong and improper for a priest. 

 How could he think of making a clay hut and burning it, 

 without any feeling of kindness or compassion towards the 

 creature whom he has tormented and destroyed during its 

 formation. It is not right for any priest to make a hut of 

 this description, for by doing so he became subject to g<?5k5)0 

 (reproof and penance) break it down, and let not living beings 

 be thus again tormented. While they were executing the 

 order, Dhaniyo came and enquired the reason why they 

 were breaking down his house. They informed him that it 

 was by the order of Budha. Upon which he said, If the 

 lord of doctrine has commanded you, break it down. He 

 then reflected, three times during my absence they broke 

 down my grass hut and took away the materials, and now 

 the clay house I built is broken down by the order of Budha, 

 I will go to my friend the keeper of the timber, and ask him 

 to give me some logs that I may build a small wooden hut. 

 He accordingly went to him, and said, My friend, three times 

 while I was out begging food, the grass and wood gatherers 

 broke down my hut and. took away the materials. I then 

 made a hut of clay, and that has been broken by the com- 

 mand of Budha ; give me some timber, that I may erect a 

 small wooden hut. The keeper of the timber-yard replied, 

 There is no timber here, my lord, fit for your purpose, except 

 that which belongs to the king, which has been collected and 

 is kept for any public works which may be required in the 

 city. If the king has given you authority, you may take 



