TRANSCRIPT OF AN ANCIENT COPPER-PLATE SANNAS 77 



of the nine gems, — (His Majesty) by bis royal command 

 delivered while seated at the new palace at Udugampola 

 ( 5) in the midst of all engaged in (state) affairs, has 

 granted a second time, on the day of an eclipse of the 

 sun, (6) by way of a second (or confirmatory) grant, on the 

 terms of a previous grant received from the Court of 

 Jiurunegala, the field (?) Walala* Palle Eerawila, situated 

 close to it, the field Lindora, A'kata Diwela, Kekulan 

 Owita (7) together with villages, moneys (?), trees, jungles, 

 marshylands, fields, Owitas, belonging to the nilaya (office?) 

 of the two pel as of husked rice (8) of Dombawala belong- 



* The readings of the words in Italics, are doubtful. 



(5) A village in the Dasiya Pattu of the Alutkiiru korale. It is 

 mentioned in the history of Ceylon so far back as the second Century 

 B* C. Prince Uttiya, brother of the king of Kelani, is said to have made 

 it his retreat on the detection of his criminal intrigue with his 

 brother's Queen. Col. Forbes, who gives a full and interesting account 

 of this romantic legend, [" Eleven years in Ceylon, Vol. I, p.p. 154—156] 

 states that the Prince fled to Ga??ipola, but the native histories distinctly 

 mention that it was Udugampola. We learn from the Rajavali that 

 a branch of the royal family of Sirisangabo settled itself in that village 

 and from several circumstances mentioned in history, I think it is 

 probable that king Vijaya Baku VI who v/as treacherously taken 

 captive by the Chinese, was a Provincial Raja of Udugampola, and not 

 the king of Gampola, as stated by Tumour and Tennent. I shall 

 recur to this subject, when treating of the Rock Inscription at Pepili- 

 yananear Kotta, which I intend to lay before the .Society on a future 

 occasion. 



Udugampola is situated about 25 miles from Colombo, and about 

 4 miles from the Veyangoda Railway Station. There are some Ruins 

 still t© be seen in the locality consisting of the remains of an ancient 

 tank with retaining walls of masonry, and some stone works. The 

 site of the palace is still pointed out as Mdllgagodella (Palace Hill) 

 and from our grant, it would appear that more than one palace exist 

 there, for this grant is stated to have been issued from "the New 

 Palace at Udugampola." 



(6) The granting of lands " at the time of an eclipse" appears to 

 have been an ancient custom of Indian kings (vide Translation of a 

 Copper Plate grant of A. D. 1443, by John Beanies Esq. B. C. S., in 

 the Indian Antiquary for December J 872, p. '6bl>.) 



(7) This field still retains its old name. 



(8) This, I suppose, is the amount of rice contributed to the 

 State by the tenants of these lands. 



