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JOURNAL, II. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIIL 



monastic establishment of the Tissa Wiharas, and for 

 the numerous residents in its immediate neighbourhood. 



As the early monarchs of Anuradhapura devoted their 

 energies (after the introduction of Buddhism by Mahinda) 

 to the construction of edifices in the sacred grounds 

 attached to the Maha Wihara, so in the south the kings of 

 Magama have left, on a smaller scale, an interesting series of 

 remains at Tissawtewa, to testify their devotion to the reli- 

 gion of the " Enlightened." What the Maha Wihara with its 

 numerons priests was to Anuradhapura, the Tissa Wiharas 

 were to the Magama of the period, At both capitals the 

 lay buildings have almost disappeared. 



As in the northern capital, the dagabas constitute the 

 most imposing rains at Tissawaewa. 



There are four principal dagabas lying in an irregular 

 east and west line, and also the ruins of two other minor 

 ones, the names of which are not known. Beginning at the 

 east, the names of the larger ones are, Sandagiri, Maha- 

 rauia, Yatthala, and Mrenik dagabas ; and all four are locally 

 attributed to Mahanaga, or the next kings, including 

 Dutthagarnini. It is only certain, however, that the Maharama 

 dates from the reign of Mahanaga, but it is most probable 

 that the Sandagiri dagaba is also one of his constructions, 

 and that the others were also built while Magama remained 

 the capital of a semi-independent Southern Kingdom, and 

 were due to either the same ruler or his immediate succes- 

 sors. The Yatthala and Ma3iiik dagabas are comparatively 

 small. Through the energy of two priests, the Maharama 

 has lately been restored, and little but the spire now remains 

 to be added ; this will bring the whole height to about 130 

 feet, — low in comparison with the immense structures of 

 Anuradhapura, yet enough to make the dagaba a prominent 

 and imposing object in the flat field below the Tissa tank. 

 It would be out of place to give in this report a detailed 

 description of these dagabas. Although varying in the 

 number of basal platforms, all appear to be otherwise built 

 of solid brickwork laid horizontally, either dry or in mud, 

 and to be after the usual ancient type as regards relative 

 proportions. The unrepaired ones are in a very ruinous 

 state, but the priests in charge of them intend to gradually 

 place all the larger ones in order, and the work of restoration 



