NO. 40.— 1890.] KUR U NEG ALA ROCKS. 



387 



often with death, are glibly cited as a warning to parties 

 intending to swear, though, if the truth could only have been 

 ascertained, it might have been discovered that the alleged 

 perjurers had, by a strange coincidence, died from natural 

 causes. However, such is the superstitious belief of those 

 who resort to this temple, that a person will ponder well 

 before he risks his life by incurring the penalties of taking 

 a false oath. 



Almost opposite to this temple, and across the road, is the 

 Raja pihilla, the " King's spout." An oblong basin, about 20 

 feet by 10, and LOfeet deep, supplied by a spring of clear water 

 welling up from beneath the rock, forms a reservoir, from 

 which the water is conducted into a larger basin about 

 double the size and of the same shape. A pipe from this 

 basin forms a spout, which is much availed of for bathing 

 purposes. The original spout is on the left, but is not now 

 in use. When Kurunegala was a royal city, tradition has it 

 that this was the bathing-place of the king. The water 

 supply of the town is, to a large extent, still drawn from it. 



There is a small temple about a mile from town, on the 

 other side of " Elephant rock," facing Getuwane, once a 

 royal village. The temple is said to have been erected by 

 the Durayas, who now inhabit the village, in opposition to 

 that at Urupakada, hereinafter more minutely described. 



A short distance from the foot of Eta-gala, in the town of 

 Kurunegala, and approached by Wathema Lane, stands a 

 rude little shrine, dedicated to a Moorish usurper of the power 

 of the last king who reigned in Kurunegala. The popular 

 tradition connected with it is not only interesting from an 

 archaeological point of view, but suggests a reason why 

 Kurunegala, from being the capital of the kings of Ceylon 

 from 1293 A.D. to 1347 A.D., ceased to be a royal city, and 

 the seat of Government came to be transferred thence to 

 Gampola. The individual to whom the temple is dedicated 

 is worshipped to this day under the title of Gale Bancldra. 



Like Etkanda Vihare, this temple is resorted to by suitors 

 for the purpose of taking the decisory oath in legal contests. 



