No. 27. — 1884.] tissamahAeX-ma akceleology. 



79 



of the east and west walls, the variation from a right-angle 

 is less than half a degree. 



These facts open up a considerable field for a conjecture. 

 The only way in which it seems to me possible for the 

 builders to have fixed the meridian with such accuracy is 

 by means of the Pole-star. I have asked a local " Naska- 

 trala," or astrologer, for his opinion on it, and he says that 

 he should first proceed to set out the east and west lines by 

 observing the point of sunrise at about the vernal or 

 autumnal equinox, and afterwards set off the others per- 

 pendicular to them. He has no knowledge of the Pole-star. 

 It seems to me very improbable that the north and south 

 lines could be as accurately determined in this manner as 

 are those at the palace. 



APPENDIX. 



The excavations recently made at the Yatthala dagaba have 

 brought to light some very interesting articles, which I take this 

 opportunity of describing. They were all found in removing the 

 talus of brick and soil which surrounded the lower portion of the 

 dagaba, and they undoubtedly once formed part of the articles 

 deposited in the relic-chamber at the top of the dagaba, which 

 tradition states to have been rifled by the Tamils — i.e. in the 

 thirteenth century. 



Four beautiful relic-receptacles or " karanduwas" have been 

 found,* one of them containing the original stopper which confined 

 the relics, and the two flakes of gold in which they were wrapped. 

 There can be no doubt that some, if not all, of these date from the 

 time of the construction of the dagaba — that is, from 220 B.C. 

 I have found no record of any restoration of this dagaba, and even 

 if it has been restored or partially rebuilt at any time, it is quite 

 certain that the greatest possible care would be taken of the relics 

 and their cases, and that they would be replaced in the relic- 

 chamber in their original state. But during Simhalese supremacy 

 the dagaba would never be allowed to fall into such a state of dis- 

 repair as its rebuilding from the level of the relic-chamber would 

 indicate. These articles, then, may be assumed to belong to the 



* See below, for illustrations of the karanduwas. 



