No. 26. — 1883.] SINHALESE BIRD-LORE. 



II 



8. Diyasevul-sandesa, "the Water-cock's message." 

 By Samarajivali. Message to Vishnu from Tangalla, 



The poems are all written after the same fashion, and 

 commence with a poetic description and eulogy of the bird. 

 The following is the Introduction to Totagamuwa' s Paravi- 

 sandesa, to which I append a literal translation : — 



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" Live long ! Great and noble pigeon ! Thou,who art like 

 unto a conch with coral leaves produced from the milky 

 ocean, in consequence of thy white colour and deep red feet! 

 my friend! Thou adornest thy friend as early spring- 

 adorns a tree. When thou wast slowly moving in the 

 sky and on a very gentle breeze, did not the people 

 seize thee, taking thee for a full-blown white lily dropt 

 from their hands ? Did they not approach thee under the 

 belief that thou wast a lotus-bud fallen from the celestial 

 river ? Having seen thee coming from the pure residence 

 of Buddha, did not the people make offerings to thee, taking 

 thee for the condensed white rays of Buddha ? Did not god- 

 desses kiss thee with delight, mistaking thee for a flower 

 coming down from Nadunuyana Garden of India ? Hast 

 thou arrived without accident in thy aerial journey ? Noble 

 friend, to us thy sight is bliss." 



I add Macready's beautiful translation of the best of the 

 Sinhalese sandesas, viz., Totagamuwa's Selalihini-sandesa : — ■ 



h 



" Oh ! mayst thou live long with thy kin, beloved 

 Selalihiniya, thou who wisdom hast 

 Like thoughts of statesmen : thou who ravishest 

 With thy sweet strains of soft auspicious notes !" 



