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



The priest of the Ganegoda temple is quite helpless, and 

 receives no assistance from his congregation ; but he seems 

 to be absolutely indifferent to their treatment, and bears his 

 troubles without murmur or complaint, though probably to 

 the detriment of the cause he represents. 



Onthe side of the rock there is a cave designated Yakkadi- 

 lena, A former incumbent of it, tradition says, was the 

 author of the Pali work Dhdtumanjusa,* a very valuable 

 contribution to Oriental literature, and largely used by Pali 

 scholars for purposes of reference. 



Yakdessa-gala is ascended from the western flank from 

 behind the Ganegoda temple. There is no beaten track 

 leading up the precipitous incline, but a guide is always 

 procurable to pilot visitors through short cuts over the rugged 

 and intricate paths. 



The ascent is very steep, and in places at a gradient of 1 in 

 2, necessitating the most cautious progress. Climbing at all 

 would be almost impracticable but for the trees and plants 

 which grow on the slanting sides, by clinging to which the 

 ascent may be made. Loose slabs and boulders of rock are 

 scattered all over, and in descending these should be care- 

 fully passed over or studiously avoided, for when dislodged 

 they are hurled down with tremendous force. A large jak- 

 tree marks half of the distance to the summit. From here 

 the ascent becomes steeper, more abrupt, and rugged, huge 

 boulders of rock being of more frequent occurrence, and 

 rendering progress more difficult. 



* The Bhdtumanjusa literally means " a casket of verbal roots," and is, 

 according- to the preface of the work, which begins with a salutation, "To 

 the sage who has reached the furthest shore of the shoreless ocean of 

 Grammar," intended " to serve as a pathway to the sacred scriptures " (of 

 Buddha). The author has, in the preparation, consulted " the sacred 

 writings of Buddha and the various grammatical works." At the conclu- 

 sion of the book it is stated that the " Dhdtumanjma has been composed in 

 alphabetical order, in correct and perspicuous language, for the benefit of 

 the uninitiated, by the learned Thero Silavanso, that chief of 

 ecclesiastics who was like a royal swan in the pond of sacred writings, 

 who longed for the firm establishment of religions, and who was the 

 incumbent of Yakkadi-lena." 



