NO. 41.-1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 



459 



alert for the destruction and perdition of souls, has, with 

 whatever is marvellous of this wonder, mixed up and con- 

 founded it with a host of superstitions and lies, so that it 

 appears to be his own invention for somewhat of the same 

 reason we have just been discussing. 



CHAPTER II. 



Of the Origin and Lineage op the Emperors op 

 Ceylan to the arrival op the Portuguese. 



THERE are few kingdoms, if any, on earth into which there 

 has not been introduced a religion of some kind or other, 

 whether it be false or true ; for the divine and the marvellous 

 with certain natural phenomena attract so easily the minds of 

 men as to subject them and take away their freedom, which 

 is the most precious thing in life. 



The same thing happened in Ceylan ; for it is related in 

 poetry, that the people who migrated from the other side of 

 the Ganges towards the east lived like wild beasts, without 

 Government, laws, or social ties, in caves, mountains, and 

 forests. These coming one day to the plains of Tanagarim, 

 which has since given its name to the kingdom, they were 

 waiting for the rising of the sun, whose light they worship- 

 ped. "When, with the first rays which spread over the horizon, 

 the earth opened up, and suddenly from its bowels issued 

 out a man in the prime of life, of such beauty and majesty 

 that they felt compelled to prostrate themselves to the ground, 

 worshipping and praying him to tell them who he was, and 

 from whence he came ? He replied, that he was the son of 

 the sun and the earth, and sent from heaven to guide and 

 govern them. They received him for king, and on account 

 of their veneration for the marvellous event, and the awe 

 they held him in, it was easy for him to unite them into a 

 nation. He founded towns, made governors, instituted laws, 

 and introduced commerce, and with the help of arms 



97—93 D 



