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



unabated. The cause of the disaster having been ascer- 

 tained, the fragment of rock was taken back and restored 

 to its place ; but it was not until the premises were cleared, 

 an arch {tor ana) erected, and offerings made to the enraged 

 deity, who presided over the hallowed spot, in expiation of the 

 desecration, that the plague ceased, and the offender's family 

 and other relatives saved from immediate harm and danger. 

 It is said however, that the unfortunate Duraya's children 

 were, nevertheless, visited with sundry afflictions, and not 

 a descendant was born but was either deaf or dumb ! 



The fragment of the moulding is yet missing, and it is 

 reported that it was buried near the column. 



The villagers state that when the river runs high the waters 

 of the Deduru-oya sweep over the premises of the Mal-asna, 

 washing off the dewale and other buildings, but, wonderful 

 to tell, not even the petal of a flower placed as an offering on 

 the sacred tablet is disturbed ! 



It is, moreover, asserted that a lamp lighted and placed on 

 the arch in honour of the presiding Devatdwa will not go 

 out, however violently the winds may blow ! 



The path which runs past the Mal-asna slopes down to the 

 edge of the river, just at the brink of which there is a stone 

 called Bat-dena-gala, on which offerings of rice in gotu 

 are made to the Devatdwa on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 

 which are days set apart for the ceremonies connected 

 with the Devala, and on these occasions large numbers of 

 Buddhists from distant villages congregate to take part in 

 the services, and to invoke and receive the blessing of the 

 presiding deity. 



In the bed of the river there is a group of rocks, on which 

 offerings are made when the river is low. When the river 

 is swollen, alms and oblations have, from necessity, to be 

 placed on the stone on the edge of the river, as the others are 

 submerged. 



The offerings, which consist of rice, cloth, money, &c, are 

 the perquisites of the Kapurdla of the Devala, and of 

 the Updsakayd, who is the incumbent of Mal-asna. 



