Prakrama Bahoo, from the Maha Wanso. 143 



" Panda Wapi," in this passage, as I have not been able to 

 meet with any information either in the Maha Wanso or in 

 any other work, which would enable me to identify it with 

 any degree of certainty. The name Panda Wapi, occurs but 

 twice in the previous part of the Maha Wanso. King Maha- 

 dathieko Maha Nago is said to have bestowed the " Panda 

 Wapi Wihara" i. e. " the Panda Tank Wihara," on a cer- 

 tain Samanero, which proves the existence of a tank of that 

 name so early as A. D. 8. (Vide Tumour's translation of the 

 Maha Wanso, p. 214.) The next reference to Panda JVdpi is 

 in the 60th chapter of the Maha Wanso, in which it is men- 

 tioned as one of the tanks constructed (or prepared) by King 

 Wijaya Bahu I.,* who reigned at Pollonnaruwa A. D. 1071 

 — 1126. I am, however, inclined to think, that we may re- 

 cognize the Panda Wapi of the Maha Wanso, in the modern 

 Padavi or Padavil Colum of the Wanny District. 



The reasons which have led me to form this conjecture are, 

 1st, the similarity, or rather the identity, of the names; for 

 the Pali word £)o8 Wapi, and the Tamil word @ <srr^ Kulam 

 (erroneously spelt Colom,) both mean tank, so that in fact the 

 Pali term Panda Wapi is an equivalent for the Tamil, Panda 

 or Pandi ColomJ which may have been corrupted into Padavi 

 or Padavil Colum. 



* As this part of the Maha Wanso has not been translated into English, I annex a 

 translation of the verses relating to works of irrigation in this reign. 



"The tanks of Mahaheli, Reheru (Sairuwella Maha?) Danta, Katunnaru, Panda 

 Wapi, Kalagalla, Erandagalla, Dighawatthu, Mandawata, Kittaggabodhi Pabbata, 

 Walahassa Mahadaragalla Kumbhilasobbha, Pattapasana, and Kanawapi, as well as 

 many other tanks whose embankments had been in ruins, did the king build (and re- 

 pair,) ever intent on the welfare of the poor. The ruler of the land having constructed 

 embankments (to prevent inundation) in many rivers, streams, in various parts (of 

 the Island) rendered the country abundant in food. Having also constructed the canal 

 Tillawatthu, which had been in ruits, he filled the tank of Manihera (Minnery) with 

 water. 7 ' — (vide 60th chapter of the Maha Wanso.) 



f I am aware of the existence of another " Great Tank" bearing the name of 

 Pandi Colom in the Uvah district, but being situated in the Rhuna Ratta, it could, I 

 think, be scarcely regarded as the Panda Wapi of the Maha Wanso, if, as I infer from 

 the context, it was constructed during the period, when Prakrama Balm, was Mahadi 

 Pado, or king of Pihiti Ratta. 



