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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. VIII. 



seem devoid of carving or artistic merit, there is not much 

 to regret in the vandalism. Here remain in situ two carved 

 trunks of elephants, such as usually crown the summit of a 

 flight of steps, and a stone patra, or "bowl," one and a half 

 foot in diameter. 



There is also a curious monolith six and a half feet Ions:, 

 three feet wide, and having at each end a tenon to fit a 

 mortice, thus : — 



In the centre is a nicely-carved boss, or omphalos, in 

 relief. This may have been a sidepost of a door, but it 

 seems unnecessarily broad for the purpose, though there 

 are some broader than this at Anuradhapura. 



South of this platform we are met by a deep but narrow 

 ravine, which has been banked up at each end as a reservoir 

 for water. It is now dry. Passing over the bund we find 

 the summit of the rock bare of earth, and bowl-shaped, and 

 pierced all over with holes, some square, but nearly all ob- 

 long, four inches by two inches, and three inches deep. They 

 seem to have been cut without regard to any plan or in line, 

 and are very close together — not more than two yards apart, 

 and sometimes less. I think these are the holes made to 

 support wooden pillars sustaining a level platform on the top 

 of the rock. West of this rock, and deep below it, lies a 

 natural depression, which has been formed into a tank or 

 pokuna twenty yards by eight yards, having a retaining 

 wall on the west side. This no longer holds water. 



Descending from this rock on the south side, we reach a 

 large flat space now overgrown by jungle, and here the 

 Palace must have stood. But with the exception of some 

 mounds of brick and rubbish, and some pillars and steps, 

 even the ruins have perished, or have been covered up. 



