No. 27.—- 1884.] TISS AMAH AB AMA ARCH2EOLOGY. 63 



No pearls were found in the excavations ; but part of one 

 of the valves of a pearl-oyster shell has been obtained near 

 the Tissa sluice, and there were several small pearls in the 

 copper vessel already mentioned. One of these pearls was 

 split in two for setting — a practice still in vogue, although 

 its antiquity may not have been previously known. These 

 pearls were perhaps procured not very far from Magama. I 

 have picked up a complete shell of a young mussel (the 

 valves not separated) at Hambantota. 



One small piece of gold-leaf, perhaps from a necklace 

 or ornament* of very delicate workmanship, is the sole 

 representative of this metal. 



Glass.— The discovery, among the oldest remains, of three 

 small blue glass beads — perforated longitudinally for string- 

 ing on a necklace — as well as a small fragment of broken 

 glass, is another of the interesting experiences of these 

 researches. There is, of course, nothing to show that these 

 were made in the Island ; but glass is mentioned as forming 

 part of the decorations in Dewdnam-piya Tissa's dedication 

 procession at Anuradhapura (Mak. p. 99) ; and Saddhatissa 

 is reported to have made " a lump of glass." (Dip, xx., 5). 

 Considering the beautiful colour of two of these beads, and 

 the good shape of all, I am inclined to believe that they 

 were imported ; otherwise it is clear that the manufacture 

 had reached such a state of excellence that more evidences 

 of it ought to be forthcoming, either among these early 

 remains, or, at any rate, in the early histories. It is diffi- 

 cult to understand how an art which had made such decided 

 progress could be lost, more particularly when it is remem- 

 bered how the knowledge of such arts is transmitted here 

 from father to son, in special families, for centuries. These 

 beads might easily have come from Phoenicia, via Assyria. 

 The broken piece of glass is, however, of inferior quality, 

 and full of minute air-bubbles. It is of a dull blue colour. 

 It could scarcely be worth while to transport such a speci- 

 men as this from Phoenicia, and possibly it may have been 

 come from India. 



* Since writing this, I have seen two pieces of gold which covered 

 the relics deposited in a receptacle at the Yatthala dagaba, and I find 

 that the fragment which we have obtained is similar to them, and was 

 probably intended for a similar purpose. 



