No. 35,-1887.] " hi'l-pen-kanduea." 121 



the spouts of the basin placed at the top. Very likely there 

 was a large flat stone under each spout, though only one seems 

 to have been found. One or two other stones have a channel 

 cut or worn at the side as if they had been fixed under a 

 spout. 



The name of this stream is H'd-pen-kandura, " cold water 

 stream." It is said to be the best water of any round Kandy 

 town (Ratemahatmaya's report of October 5, 1874). Until 

 a few years ago it was a favourite bathing-place of the Kandy 

 people, but the opening of the new Gregory road diverted 

 the course of the stream in some places, and made the old 

 bathing-place, w^hich was situated a short distance lower 

 down the stream, unsuitable for public use. 



A spout which, according to the Ratemahatmaya, had 

 existed there from time immemorial, was removed by the 

 municipality some years ago, and although a new one was 

 put up it did not last long. The stream is much fouled by 

 dhobies, of whom there is a whole colony in Ampitiya. A 

 portion of it has been diverted to a private bathing-place, 

 and the old bathing-place is not now used. 



This seems to have been known as " the king's spout," 

 ^nd, according to prevailing traditions, the Kandyan kings 

 preferred the water of this stream for bathing in to any in 

 Kandy. Probably the real " king's spout " is the bathing- 

 place that has just been discovered. Although hidden from 

 view for generations, its name remained, and in course of time 

 began to be applied to the other " spout " lower down, which 

 had not disappeared. 



The last king of Kandy granted the land about these bathing- 

 places to a tenant, who held it by the tenure of watching 

 the spout for the palace. 



It is to be regretted that the present tenant has removed 

 the pillar, basin, and flat stone to the compound of his house, 

 -a short distance off. He had to employ an elephant for the 

 purpose. There will not be much difficulty in having them 

 replaced. It is needless to remark that the land about this 

 stream ought never to have been sold by the Crown. 



