ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



79 



a Prince of the same name ruled over Jaffna about A. D. 1371. 

 He also carried on hostilities against the Singhalese, and was 

 so far successful that he subdued the whole of the west coast, 

 threw up fortifications at Colombo, Negombo and Chilaw, and 

 continued to collect tribute from both the high and low coun- 

 tries, and likewise from the nine ports.* It was his court which 

 Ibn Batuta, the Arabian Traveller visited, and whom he found 

 possessed of " considerable forces by sea," and also plenty of 

 riches, amongst which is particularly mentioned "a saucer 

 made of a ruby, as large as the palm of the hand, on which he 

 kept oil of aloes. "f 



Sri Wira Prakrama-Bahu, who ascended the throne of 

 Cotta in A. D. 1410, is said to have again reduced Jaffna un- 

 der the Singhalese yoke, deposed Ariya Chakrawarti, and made 

 one of his sons, named Sapumal Kumar a, King over it; and the 

 particulars of this event will be found in the following extract 

 from the Rajavallii " The King thought within himself that 

 there was no need for several Kings to be in the Island of 

 Ceylon, and accordingly, having assembled his forces, placed 

 them under the command of his eldest son, Sapumal Kumar a, 

 and sent them out against the Malabar enemy; and the Prince 

 fell upon many villages belonging to Jaffna, and defeated the 

 same, taking many prisoners, whom he brought to Cotta. The 

 King sent out his said son for the second time with another 

 army; and this time the Prince entered the city of Jaffna 

 itself, and made himself master of the ports thereof. When the 

 Prince entered J affna, he rode upon a black horse ; and the Mala- 

 bars, hiding themselves, lay in wait, in order to direct their efforts 

 against the same, with a view to get the Prince into their 



* Uphara's Sacred and Historical Books of Ceylon, vol. ii. p. 264* 



f Prof, Lee's Travels of Ibn Batuta. 



