58 journal r. a. s. (ceylon). [Vol. VII., Pt. II. 



Again, the cramped and rocky creek known as Galle Har- 

 bour can scarcely be identified with the capacious * 1'imerC or 

 lagoon, and tranquil inland water, which is often spoken of in 

 connection with the emporium of Kalah. 



Farther, we have every reason to regard the Galle neigh- 

 bourhood as of comparatively recent civilization, and possessing 

 few ancient historical traditions, and no ancient historical 

 remains. Neither in the extreme corner of the kingdom ever 

 guarded for its legitimate Sovereigns by the loyal, brave, and 

 independent mountaineers of Kuhuna, can we trace the half 

 Tamil district of Kalah, which owned the sway of the Maha- 

 rajas of Zabetlj, the Sultans of the Isles, who, as Cosmas in 

 A. D. 550, (supported by Abou Zeyd in A, D. 900,) tells us were 

 1 kvavnoi dWrjXwv 'opposed to, or independent of, each other,' when 

 spoken of in conjunction with the King who had the Hyacinth. 



It may be well to remark here that the recurring expression 

 e the King who has the Hyacinth,'* scarcely refers to the great 

 gem that was mounted on the pinnacle of a lofty dagoba, and 

 is celebrated by the travellers to the royal city ; or yet to the 

 blue statue of Buddha described by Fa Hian, but rather means 

 'the King who had the country where the jacinth was 

 found,' i. e. Sabaragamuwa and the adjacent Highlands, 

 anciently included in Ruhuna. 



Farther, as we are told by Abou Zeyd, between the kingdom 

 with the emporium and the Hyacinth country lies the pepper 

 country — a remark positively not applying to Galle, but at 

 once understood, if we admit, as I hope hereafter to show is the 

 case, that Kalah is the N. W. coast between the Arlppu river 

 ( the ancient Kadamba) and the Dedura-oya ; when the expres- 

 sion may be amplified into, between Puttalam District and 

 the Adam's Peak District lies the plain of the Kelani river and 



* "6 elg hxojv tov vaKivOov" 1 (Cosmas Indicopleustes) — Tennent, Ceylon, 

 Vol I. p, 591. 



