2 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XI. 



for about four miles more, arriving at the village of Gala- 

 pitigala at nightfall after a very hot walk. 



Some preparations had been made for our reception, the 

 Arachchi, at the head of most of the inhabitants, turning out 

 to meet us, and we found a house lined with white cloths 

 set apart for our use. The village seems an interesting one, 

 and is prettily situated,* standing about a hundred and fifty 

 yards from the road, whence it is approached by a small 

 jungle path, and about the same distance on the other side 

 from a large but nearly empty tank, which serves to irrigate 

 a few small paddy fields. Cotton is grown by the villagers, 

 and rough cloths made from it by the women, who were 

 good-looking, and appeared much more intelligent than the 

 men. 



Early the next morning we started for Ritigala, and after 

 skirting the tank we passed for some two miles through the 

 usual low scrubby jungle below the eastern side of the 

 mountain. We then turned westward so as to reach the 

 northern side, from which point alone it can be ascended ; 

 and after about a mile through higher forest we arrived at 

 the foot. 



Extensive ruins are here met with, of which we first 

 became aware by crossing the bund of a large pokuna, now 

 breached and nearly empty. This is faced throughout with 

 large chiselled stones arranged stepwise, and much of it is 

 in good preservation. Ascending from this, on an elevation 

 immediately above, are the remains of several buildings. 

 One which stands in a compound with a wall of hewn stone 

 round it is 65 ft. long by 48 ft. in breadth. The work of 

 this and the other buildings is quite plain and entirely 

 without ornamentation. 



From this group of buildings there runs up the hill for 

 nearly a quarter of a mile a straight causeway, 5 ft. wide, 

 well paved, with large flags, and bordered by kerbstones, at 



* These measurements are from a report by Mr. D. Gr. Mantell, made in 

 August, 1878. 



