No. 34.— 1887.] 



POLONNARUWA. 



51 



themselves by throwing stones at the beautiful statues of 

 the Galvihara. 



Other iconoclasts have recently defaced a fine doorway 

 forming part of the Wata Dage, and there is every reason to 

 believe that they or their fellows have removed the missing 

 portions of the inscription at the Lata Mandapaya for 

 domestic purposes. An admirably carved lion, belonging to 

 t he frieze of the Wata Dage, was found in the house of the 

 local A'rachchi, performing the functions of a turmeric 

 grinder. 



To add to the horror of these general tendencies, it is well 

 known that any stone with letters on it is popularly 

 supposed to mark hidden treasure, concerning which 

 fabulous notions exist in the rustic native mind. Of course, 

 were it practicable, it would be far more satisfactory to leave 

 all inscriptions in statu quo ; but I am perfectly sure that in 

 the face of the facts I have mentioned a local museum is the 

 only place for them, — care being taken to attach to each 

 inscription a label detailing the exact place in which it was 

 found. 



List of Newly-Discovered Inscriptions dealt 

 with during march, 1886. 



1. — Inscription running round the four sides of the stone 

 seat, found on excavating the inmost shrine of the Thuparama. 

 Complete : transcribed : translated. 



2. — Inscription on two large slabs forming the side wall 

 of the porch of the Heta Dage. Complete : transcribed : 

 translated. 



3. — Inscription on a series of stone slabs forming the 

 right-hand outer wall of the inner entrance to the Heta 

 Dage. Complete so far as it goes, but unfinished : tran- 

 scribed : translated. 



4. — Inscription on four sides of a stone pillar to the east of 

 the Vishnu Dewale. Complete : transcribed : translated. 



E 2 



