amongst the Singhalese. 271 



(as seen in this word, tamba, copper, Karri, " work " for karm, &c. &c. 

 &c.). — Beng. A. Society's Journal, vol. v., p. 830. 



Without controverting the main position of the learned 

 Doctor, viz., that there was a connection between the History 

 of Ceylon before the Christian aera, with that of Maghada, 

 or that part of northern* India which we now call Bihar ; 

 I may be permitted to remark that the Singhalese resembles 

 the Pali more than the Sanscrit ;f and this is the case not 

 only in respect to the general structure of the language, but 

 in reference to the particular appellation given to this 

 " utmost Indian isle, Taprobane." 



For, although Dr, Mill states on the authority of what he 

 regarded a " competent scholar on the Island " — that " the 

 Sanscrit form (tamra-pani) so different from the Pali, is 

 actually the present Singhalese^ for the same thing ;" it is 

 nevertheless very clear that the Singhalese word, Tammana 

 for the same place,§ is derived from the Pali, and not from 

 the Sanscrit. From the fact, that this Island was anciently 

 called Taprobane by Western nations, especially the Greeks, 

 who, it is probable to suppose, " would be just as unlikely to 

 introduce this r where it did not exist, as any other nations 

 of India ; besides the Northernmost ones would be to drop it 

 where it before existed ;" — a presumption doubtless arises in 

 favor of this name having been of Sanscrit origin. But we 

 cannot give much weight to this presumption, when the same 

 facts upon which it is based may render the truth of a different 

 hypothesis probable, viz , that the Greeks, after the Wijayan 

 aera, were indebted for the name to persons who expressed 



* "Our language furnishes us with strong evidence against the supposition 

 that it belongs to the Southern class of languages." — Sidath Sangara, p. lvii. 



t The Singhalese became incorporated with Sanscrit forms only at a very 

 recent date. See Sidath Sangara, pp. xxx. liii. clxiv. 



\ In Singhalese historical works, Tambapanna is called Tammana; See Raja- 

 Walia, and Forbes' Eleven Years in Ceylon, vol. 1. p. 11. Also Upham's works, 

 vol. ii., pp. 174-5. 



§ " They returned from their destruction to TWraana-nuwara, or the city of 

 Tammana." — Rajawalia. 



