CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 157 



axd white glazed jar, 3 feet from the surface, and among the roots 

 of an old tree of the Banyan species, not far from a coilla or 

 Hindu temple. The jar was near the feet of a human skeleton, 

 about which were many rich jewels — a ring was found with the 

 finger bone still remaining in. Ornaments and bars of gold 

 were also found in the jar. There was no silver or copper at 

 the place, all were of gold. A small common chatty was 

 found at another tree hard by, with the same description of coins. 

 The natives call the trees " demon trees. " 



Some Roman medals were discovered at Mantotte in the year 

 1574. Where they were deposited, and in whose hands they 

 now are, I have not been able to ascertain. It would be 

 gratifying if any member of the Society could furnish informa- 

 tion on the subject. 



The annexed representation No. 9 is of a coin of lead 75 

 grs. in weight, haying on one side a Roman head, and on the 

 reverse an eagle standing on a thunderbolt as in the Roman 

 gold scrupulus* 



II. Modern Coins. 



in the former period, coins, always useful both as evidences 

 of historical facts and as affording illustrations of literary and 

 historical documents, have more of the former character than the 

 latter. Here it is otherwise ; the facts of history are now ge* 

 nerally known, and coins are consequently valuable not so much 

 to prove the existence of certain facts as to illustrate and ex* 

 plain the accounts we have of them or the allusions made to 

 them, in history and literature. 



And first with respect to the Portuguese, their settlement in 

 Ceylon appears to have been fatal to the Singhalese ; — it had 

 the efFeet of completely separating the people of the coast from 

 those of the interior, and shutting up the latter among their 

 mountains away from every opportunity of intercourse or com* 

 munication with foreign nations while they themselves were a* 



