No. 29.— 1884.] 



KALI KOVILA. 



345 



itself, in a temple already hallowed by the associations of 

 centuries, will at once do away with the necessity to which 

 suitors at the Gansabhawa are now subjected of having to 

 proceed to the Kande Vikdra, in the Pasdun Korale, when- 

 ever the President in his discretion elects to submit his 

 decision to the ordeal of oath. 



The restoration of a heathen temple, as is foreshadowed 

 in this Paper, may perhaps require some explanation in the 

 eyes of those to whose Christian training it may seem an 

 outrage. But Christian missionary effort in the Bentota 

 District, it must be remembered, for the last quarter of a 

 century, or even more, has been attended with absolutely no 

 results, and the people are still strongly wedded to their 

 ancestral beliefs. I have thought it proper, therefore, 

 purely in the material interests of my District, to identify 

 myself with this movement, so as to ensure for it some 

 good practical result. Unless under intelligent guidance, 

 spontaneous undertakings of any kind whatever come to 

 nought among the Sinhalese people. And where the 

 weight of authority can, in addition, be thrown into the 

 scale, the undertaking may be so conducted as to be 

 attended with good results to the people. Bentota, besides, 

 can lay claim to five of the most ancient Viharas in the 

 Island — Bentota, Wanawdsa, Bodimaluwa, Galapdta, and 

 Benwehera. The building of the Kali Kovila is supposed 

 to be coeval with that of these temples. And as the 

 goddess is also looked upon as a supporter of Buddhism, 

 and as she is popularly credited with the possession of 

 supernatural powers, the restoration and maintenance of a 

 temple in her honour cannot fail to be pleasing to the 

 people. 



