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



squats down in the Oriental way. The right arm hangs loosely 

 at the side ; the left is supported on the bent knee just above the 

 elbow, the fore-arm being turned upward, the hand open and 

 displayed, and the fore-finger and thumb holding a flower, pre- 

 sumably a lotus, before the face. The face is in profile, and the 

 hair is freely thrown back from the forehead, and is treated 

 artistically, hanging just on to the neck in bold profusion, and 

 covering the ears. Round the base of the neck is a necklet, such 

 as small Tamil children wear ; and on each arm, a short distance 

 above the elbow, is a rounded armlet, or single bangle. It is 

 quite evident that the body is nude from the waist upward ; the 

 anatomical details are delicately carved. The artist has experi- 

 enced small difficulty in depicting the robe, which is transparent. 

 Its upper part can be seen passing round the waist ; the edge 

 hangs down from the left knee, and the folds on the right thigh 

 are very distinct. A cord-like line, held in the right hand near 

 the waist, passes over the right shoulder, and back round the 

 front of the waist, above the edge of the robe. Its ends pass 

 outwards through the open back of the chair, and end in graceful 

 upward curves. This may perhaps represent a gold chain 

 thrown negligently round the figure, or otherwise a Brahmanical 

 cord. 



Only one side of the chair or throne is shown. It is of pecu- 

 liar shape, and rests on several feet, a pair being visible at each 

 corner. The side is deep, extending almost to the ground, and 

 is made of open basket-work, which is admirably engraved. The 

 back rises as high as the man's shoulders, and curves backward in 

 a luxurious fashion. At the upper corner, the upright bar passes 

 through the horizontal bar (there is only one cross bar, which is 

 at the top of the chair), and curls over towards it, ending in a 

 carved knob. From the junction of the two bars there hang two 

 long tassels. The whole upright bar is decorated outside with 

 curled and winding ornamentation. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. E. A. W. Budge, of the British 

 Museum, I am able to append the following report on this gem, 

 which is presumed to be of Indian origin : — 



" I have shown your gem to Mr. Franks, and also to Dr. Birch. 

 They have also read your account of the finding of the gem. 

 Mr. Franks does not think that the gem is so old as the time of 

 Asoka ; on the other hand, he thinks it much later ; but there are 

 so very few gems of this class, and of those so very little is 

 known, that it is impossible to fix any exact date for them." 



Without entering into a detailed discussion, I may add the 

 following rough notes regarding the gem : — 



