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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



third century before Christ ; and, as the earliest remains yet 

 found in the Island, they have a great archaeological interest. 

 The following is a list of the things found : — 



(1) A barrel-shaped karanduwa of amethyst. The diameter of 

 the base is *94 in., the height 1*06 in,, and the diameter of the top 

 •50 in. The colour of the stone, though very rich, extends" over 

 only part of the karanduwa. Two parallel grooves pass round 

 the amethyst in the lower half just below the minor axis. The 

 relic-cavity is borell to about half the depth of the stone. The 

 stone has considerable polish. 



(2) A beautifully-polished, clear, brownish, rock-crystal karan- 

 duwa, of nearly the same shape as the preceding, but broader and 

 flatter. It has a base of 1*22 in., and a height of 1*00 in. The 

 upper half is nearly hemispherical. Just below the minor axis 

 two admirably-cut parallel grooves or flutings pass round the stone; 

 but they are broader and shallower than those on the amethyst. The 

 cylindrical relic-cavity is bored rather less than half the depth of 

 the stone, A stopper of nearly cylindrical form, but really the 

 frustrum of a very tall cone, has been found also ; and as it exactly 

 fits the cavity it is supposed to belong to this karanduwa. It is 

 composed of the same description of stone, but is merely turned, 

 and not polished. This karanduwa is a highly-finished piece of 

 work. 



(3) A dagaba-shaped karanduwa of chrysoberyl, having a base 

 T20 in. in diameter, a height of 1*28 in., and a top *54 in. square. 

 The top of the basal platform is not horizontal, but slopes con- 

 siderably downward from its junction with the dagaba. The 

 whole cupola is approximately about three-quarters of a sphere. 

 From the platform it rises outwards, increasing in diameter until 

 half the total height of the stone is reached. The square cap or 

 plinth on the top of the dome is relatively larger than is usual in 

 dagabas. The work is of a rougher type than the others, so that 

 these differences may not imply a corresponding difference in the 

 earliest forms of dagaba. The enlargement of the diameter of the 

 dome above the platform is characteristic of some early Indian 

 dagabas, but not of those found in Ceylon. The relic-cavity is 

 not bored truly down the axis of the stone, but diverges to one side. 

 Its length is about two-thirds of the whole length of the stone. 



(4) A pretty little karanduwa, with its stopper, of clear 

 polished rock-crystal. Its shape is between the barrel and dagaba. 

 It has a base '68 in. in diameter, a height of '78 in., and a top *37 in. 

 square ; but when the stopper is inserted the height is 1*10 in. 

 A broad horizontal groove passes round the stone, at about one- 

 quarter of its height from the bottom, forming the lower part 



