NO. 41.— 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 461 



worshipping their prince Vigia-raju with all the adulation 

 and reverence due to a god ; they introduced the Cambaja, 

 which was more a religious ceremony of adoration than of 

 courtesy, for they prostrated themselves on the ground when 

 they addressed him, a custom formerly used by the Curima- 

 vas (the name under which those idolaters, the descendants 

 of the sun, were known). So great was the superstition with 

 which these men looked upon all to whom they were subjects, 

 and whom they chose for princes. He became one of the 

 most powerful in the east, governing the whole Island as an 

 absolute monarch. 



Having no sons he left the kingdom to one whom he 

 made his heir, under whose male descendants the empire 

 lasted until king Boenagabo-pandar, who, having two 

 brothers, the second he named king of Beygan, and the last, 

 called Madumepandar, he made king of Ceittavaca, retaining 

 for himself the kingdom of Cota, with the supreme title of 

 Emperor of the Island.* 



Madime, envying the superior greatness of his brother, 

 resolved to dispossess him, and began a long civil war, which 

 ended in his ruin ; for Boenagabo sought the aid of the 

 Portuguese, with whom he had entered into close friendship j 

 for he was the first who had correspondence with them when 

 they entered the Island,! and they upheld his empire and 

 reputation as long as he lived. He had only one daughter, 

 and wishing to preserve the male descent of his illustrious 

 race, he chose for son-in-law a prince, although poor, of 

 high birth, whose name was Trioulipandar 3 and whose 

 ancestors on both sides were of the Sun caste. From this 

 marriage was born a son called Dramabellabaopandar,% who 

 in after years was sworn in as Prince of Gey lan in Lisbon by 



*Bhuvaneka Balm VII., 1534-42 A.D. (Kotte); Raja Sinha Raja, alias 

 Rayigani Bandara (Rayigania) ; Mayadunne, 1534-81 A.D. (Sftavaka). — 

 B., Hon. Sec. ' ' 



f A misstatement. The Portuguese first entered Ceylon during the reign 

 of Dharmma Parakrama Bahu IX. (accession 1508 A.D.). — B., Hon. Sec. 



X Dharmmapala Bandara, afterwards christened Don Juan (1542-97 

 A.D.). — B., Hon. Sec. 



D 2 



