Introductory Paper on Singhalese Music. 201 



2. With regard to the estimation, in which music was 

 held, in comparison with other branches of knowledge, it 

 may be observed ; — That the Rajah Ratnacri, ascribes to a 

 favorite Singhalese Prince, a knowledge of the following 

 branches of Eastern Science ; — 1. Oratory; 2. General know- 

 ledge; 3. Grammar; 4. Poetry ; 5. Knowledge of Languages; 

 6. Astronomy ; 7. Knowledge of giving counsel ; 8. Of obtain- 

 ing Nirwana; 9. The knowledge of good and evil actions; 

 10. Of shooting; 11. Of Elephants; 12. Discernment of 

 thoughts ; 13. Discernment of invisible beings; 14. Know- 

 ledge of words; 15. Knowledge of history ; 16. Of the law ; 

 17. Rhetoric; and 18, Medicine. (Upham IL, 99-100.) 



It is probable, that had music been held in higher estima- 

 tion by the partial historian, he would have added it to the 

 others, by which the memory of Prackramabahoo the 3rd, is 

 adorned in the page of Singhalese history. 



3. It is probable that many attempts have been made to 

 reduce Singhalese melodies to European notation ; but the 

 silence which has been hitherto preserved on the subject, 

 must be interpreted as a tacit acknowledgment of failure. 

 The fullest account of native music and musical instruments, 

 is that given by Davy, whose work on Ceylon ranks next to 

 that of Knox for originality and correctness. Davy gives a 

 description of seven native musical instruments, — 1. The 

 Berrigodea, 2. The Doula, 3. The tom-tom, 4. The Udakea,, 

 5. The Tallea, — 6. The Horanawa ; and 7. The Vennavah. 

 It may be here remarked, that all these are Singhalese in- 

 struments ; and that the brother of Sir Humphry Davy, with 

 the carefulness of a scientific enquirer, has not confounded 

 them with Malabar instruments, or added any foreign ones 

 to his enumeration. It would be unadvisable, perhaps, to 

 incorporate the remarks of Dr. Davy, in this paper, since the 

 work itself could always be referred to. 



