78 journal r. A. s. (ceylon). [Vol. VII., Pt. II. 



point out that there is a peculiar word always for the hood, or pene,* 

 of the cobra, which would have no Chinese equivalent, and which it 

 would be difficult for Fa-Hian to translate or express without a very- 

 long explanation. No doubt Fa-Hian when he says " white ears" 

 means ' white sides to the hood' ; and it is well known that in India 

 and Ceylon this albino, or partially albino, cobra is not very uncommon, 

 aud regarded with special veneration. 



It is generally known that if enquiry be made from any intelligent 

 old Sinhalese villager as to the habits of the cobra, he states that it 

 has a special passion for new milk, aud can always be enticed from 

 its lurking place by a bowl of this delicacy. Are we to regard this 

 belief as arising from fact, and originating milk as the offering made 

 to the Niiga ? or has a tradition that milk is the offering made given 

 rise to the popular belief ? 



This is a most interesting question, and it is much to be wished 

 one of our Members would experiment and report on the attraction 

 milk or cream may, or may not, possess for the cobra. 



In this connection I have asked my friend Mr. Haly, Director of the 

 Ceylon Museum, if possible, to exhibit the Naga and lamp presented 

 by me to the Museum at the reading of this Paper, and also to 

 exhibit for me two especially fine and ancient masks of the mythical 

 King and Queen of the Nagas procured by me in the interior of the 

 Southern Province, and still in my collection. I thiuk it is possible 

 what appears to be a lamp (found just in front of the snake) is in 

 reality the dish for the offering of milk. 



(2) 



This Paper is so largely mixed up with matter extracted from 

 Fa Hian's travels, that the following notes on his account of Ceylon 

 may be here appended : — 



(i.) Firstly, observe the hitherto (as far as I know) neglected 

 passage in which he, a devout Buddhist Priest, says the tradition in 

 A. D. 400 was that the sacred Bo tree was grown at Anuradhapura 



* S. GO©>£tf, 'the cobra's hood,' and ©o<33©C53 gD, penagoba, 4 the inside 

 of the extended hood.'— Hon. Sec. 



