62 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. VIII. 



account of Dutthagamini's decorations at the Lohapasada : 

 — " All these apartments were highly embellished ; they 

 had festoons of beads, resplendent gems. The flower orna- 

 ments appertaining thereto were also set with gems, and 

 the tinkling festoons were of gold." (Mak. p. 163 ; compare 

 Dip. xi., 20 ; see also Appendix.) 



Besides these beads, a large, inferior, uncut amethyst, and 

 pieces of chalcedony, carnelian, and rock-crystal in the 

 rough state, have been discovered in the cutting near the 

 sluice. I believe that none of these stones are found in the 

 neighbourhood of Tissawsewa. 



It may be of interest, for the sake of camparison, to 

 enumerate the stones now worked in Ceylon ; and Mr. 

 Hayward, of Colombo, the representative of Mr. Streeter, 

 the well-known dealer in precious stones, has been kind 

 enough to furnish me with a list of those met with by him, 

 as follows : — 



Sapphire 

 Ruby 



* Amethyst 

 Cat's-eye 

 Alexandrite 



* Chrysoberyl 



Spinel 



* Tourmaline 

 Aquamarine 



* Rock-crystal 



* Chalcedony (rare) 

 Star-stone 



Garnet 

 Jacinth 

 J argon 

 * Selenite. 



Of these, six marked (*) have been discovered at Tissa- 

 maharama. 



The coral from which the beads are made may have been 

 obtained round the southern coast. Without doubt great 

 numbers of these small beads were overlooked in our exca- 

 vations ; and it is certain that when so many were in the 

 possession of men of the lower castes, the collection of the 

 coral and its cutting and boring must have been an industry 

 of some importance. (Mah. p. 168 ; Dip. xx., 13.) 



Of the flat disks composed of silicate of alumina, and 

 belonging to necklaces, we have found no less than 70, 

 either whole or broken. That so many were lost by these 

 people is a proof of their abundance, and almost a proof that 

 they were a local production. This manufacture shows, 

 almost more plainly than anything else, the great attention 

 paid in early times to the making of articles for personal 

 adornment. 



