130 



JOURNAL E, A. S. (CEYLON.) 



[Yol. III. 



" On the top of the great embankment itself, and close by 

 the breach, there stands a tall sculptured stone, with two 

 engraved compartments, that no doubt record its history, but 

 the Udaiyar informed us that the characters were Nagari, and the 

 language Pali, or some unknown tongue which no one can 

 now read." 



I have only to add, that my object in submitting the 

 accompanying translation is by no means to advance any 

 hypothesis of my own on this subject, but simply to put parties 

 competent to decide on the point in possession of the data 

 contained in the hitherto untranslated part of the Mahawanso, 

 and especially to aid the investigations of those gentlemen whose 

 meritorious labours have already invested the subject with so 

 great an interest. 



CHAPTER LXVIIL 



This Sovereign of lofty aspirations, who was well acquainted with 

 foreign countries, thus thought within himself ; 



" In what well-governed kingdom is the administration of affairs con- 

 ducted without obtaining a knowledge of its means ? 



" The object of my sovereignty is the advancement of the prosperity 

 of Religion and the State, having vanquished all enemies. This kingdom, 

 although very small, being filled with great prosperity, I shall by the 

 superiority of my wisdom, soon bring into such a state as that it will 

 surpass the greatness of other kingdoms. 



" Conferring appointments on mj^ofiicers, whose advancement is identical 

 with my own, according to their respective merits rewarding them 

 with honors and wealth ; causing my own people to settle in various 

 parts within my dominions, from the mountain Samarda-kuta (Adam's 

 Peak) as far as the sea coast, the cultivation of grain should be carried 

 on in as many ways as possible." 



Having thus reflected, the King thus addressed his officers : 



" In my kingdom are many paddy fields cultivated by means of rain 

 water, but few indeed are those which are cultivated by means of peren- 

 nial streams and great tanks,. 



