No. 29.— 1884.] 



BELIGALA. 



353 



On the south-east the rock falls away bare of earth by- 

 several platforms to the belt of jungle which surrounds the 

 summit above the cliffs. Here we find two ponds or 

 pokunu: one cut in the rock of oblong shape, twenty-five feet 

 by ten feet by six feet ; the other lower down, and circular 

 in shape, formed by a large bund, on which large trees 

 grow. This is about twenty yards in diameter. Both these 

 hold water still. 



On the north-east side there is said to be a large cave, 

 but the difficulty of descending to its entrance, and want of 

 time, prevented me from making any exploration. 



It is curious that no inscriptions are to be found. I was 

 shown a sign, mark, or letter, six inches by three inches, cut 

 in the rock near the small pond, thus : — 



E 



s 



w 



I thought at first that it was the sign Sri, and it 

 somewhat resembles it from my sketch, but the cut sign 

 was not like Sri. 



I was shown a species of grass, or "hill-paddy," which 

 looks like a small kind of el-vz, growing among the jungle 

 on the top of the rock, and is said to be peculiar to the 

 place. I hope to obtain an opinion from Dr. H. Trimen and 

 Mr. W. Ferguson. 



At the foot of the rock, on the east, there remains a bund, 

 or we-kanda, about twenty feet high, through a breach 

 in which the stream flows, the bed of the tank having been 

 converted into paddy fields. This work, as well as an 

 ancient Vihara close by ; now falling into ruin, is ascribed to 

 King Kalinga Bahn. 



