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CEYLON BRANCH 



became at length matter of mere book learning and tradition. 

 Neither of the coins named have come under my observation ; 

 but annexed No. 5 is a representation of a small copper coin 

 bearing on one side what seems intended for a lion — the 

 symbol of the Singhalese kings as descendants of the father 

 of Wijeya, the lion born and lion killer, so described in the 

 fabulous story with which the Mahawanso veils his origin. It 

 weighs 35 grains. 



Annexed also is a representation of a fish-marked coin, 

 No. 6— the same as is described in the Journal of the Bengal 

 Asiatic Society for 1837, p. 302, fig. 16, as a genuine old coin 

 of Ceylon dug up at Montolle, by which must be meant 

 Mantotte. On one side is a bull or deer (which latter was a 

 symbol of the Budhist priests, who it is said sometimes struck 

 coins in their wihares) and on the other two fishes. The coin is 

 probably allied to that noticed in the Asiatic Researches, vol. 

 17. p. 592, fig. 81. It weighs 68 grs. 



Annexed also is a representation of the " ridi" No. 7, as 

 given by Dr. Davy * who says " it resembles a fish hook, and 

 is merely a piece of thick silver wire bent." This description 

 accords much with the larin, an old coin and money of account 

 in Persia and Arabia of 2 J mamoodis. It consisted of a silver 

 wire, about half an inch in length, doubled up, and flattened 

 on one side to receive the impression of characters. The 

 mamoodi of Gombron was worth 3d., so that the larin and 

 ridi were in value too almost the same. 



Other ancient coins to be found in the island, but of a 

 different class, are those of which the annexed are representa- 



he converted by recoining each kahapanan into eight. The same 

 coin, the kahapanan, is also mentioned in the Sandes or epistle from 

 the Sangha raja of Birmah. — Friend viii. 49. 

 * Davy's Ceylon p. 245. 



