8 



C E Y L G K BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



not members, among whom must here be especially named 

 Mr. Casie Chetty, whose paper on the coins found at Cal- 

 pentyn is particularly interesting, though perhaps not alto- 

 gether new. In publishing that, and similar papers, I 

 have no doubt the Society will endeavour to secure also 

 correct representations of the different coins referred to, as 

 well for the observations of others thereon, as for the bet- 

 ter elucidation of the paper itself. The study of coins is 

 not the province of the antiquary only. Coins are among 

 the most certain evidences of history — they form sometimes 

 its best illustrations — and, in explaining obscure passages 

 in ancient Avritings, preserving delineations of ancient 

 buildings, and in respect of their style and execution, they 

 are often both to the scholar and the artist of the highest 

 value. In the present case, for instance, "Havana's mo- 

 ney" or the "demon's cash," carries us back to one of the 

 earliest legends respecting Ceylon, to the days of Kama 

 and Seta, and to the contests between a once powerful and 

 triumphant religious party, and their so-called heretical 

 opponents. 



There yet remain to be noticed two Committees of the 

 Society — one on the Meteorology of Ceylon, the other to 

 ascertain the difference, if any, between the doctrines of 

 Budha current in different places by a collation of texts, 

 particularly the texts here and in Nepaul. These Com- 

 mittees were appointed sometime ago, but no report has 

 yet been given in by either. 



From what has been said of the structure and operations 

 of the Society, a favourable prognostication may reason- 

 ably be entertained of its ultimate success. Something has 

 been done which was not previously effected: the consti- 

 tution of the Society is formed, its thews and sinews are 

 in action — and if the advance made has not been great, 

 advance we must bear in mind is not always required : pre- 

 paration is necessary to the leap, the crouch indispensable 

 to the spring; nay, in the progress of human society there 

 is often a retrogression before improvement, as in the migh- 

 ty ocean there is the reflux before the washing wave. 



The objects of the Society are great and interesting: it 

 seeks to know all that can be known respecting Ceylon, 

 the Lanka dwipa, the glorious land of eastern romance ; 

 the once utmost Indian isle, Taprobane : and there is not 



