No. 27. — 1884.] TISS AMAH A RAM A ARCHEOLOGY. 



65 



and ear-ring, were all found among or near the houses of 

 the artificers. 



Pumice. — A small piece of material identified by Mr. A. 

 C. Dixon as pumice was also found in one of the same 

 houses. Possibly this was used medicinally, but more 

 probably it was employed in polishing precious stones. 



Foreign Trade. 

 The two last articles appear to be small things on which 

 to found a big hypothesis; but if I am correct (in the 

 absence of suitable works of reference) in supposing that 

 the jade has come from the east of the Bay of Bengal,* 

 and that the pumice cannot have been procured nearer than 

 Sumatra, we have here proof of a direct ancient trade 

 between North-Eastern India and the Far East, if not directly 

 between Ceylon itself and the East. Nor is there anything 

 in such a theory which is inconsistent with probabilities. 

 It is known that centuries before these remains were covered 

 up many vessels sailed from the Ganges to Ceylon ; and, if 

 so, there is every likelihood that others carried their trading 

 operations eastward along the shores of the Bay of Bengal. 

 If Buddhist missionaries were despatched from India to 

 Burma in the reign of Asoka, that country must have been 

 long previously known to the inhabitants of North-Eastern 

 India, t The earliest travellers must have been traderSj 

 and they must also have gone by sea, the land journey being 

 impossible. And with a trade route once established between 

 India and Burma and round the coasts of India, some of the 

 desirable produce of the Far East would certainly find its way 



* Since this was written Mr, Hay ward has informed me that he 

 has been shown jade which was said to be procured and cut in Northern 

 India ; but, if so, he remarks that it must be found in very limited 

 quantity, and he considers that China and Japan are the true sources 

 of it. He states, however, that the specimens of jade which have been 

 found at Tissamaharama are much coarser than Chinese samples, so 

 that I conclude they may perhaps have come from Northern India- 

 The carnelian is also probably imported from India. 



f The first Buddhist missionaries, 18 in number, visited China in 

 B.C. 216, but they made the journey overland. As foreigners and 

 I strange characters,' they were all thrown into prison, but eventually 

 released. Still, it seems probable that a trade with China existed 

 before they ventured to make the journey. ( China, by Proff. Douglas, 

 p. 318). 



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