NO. 46.— 1895.] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, SIGIRIYA. 49 



west, and north of the Rock, can be effected only after the 

 whole area of the ancient nuwara is freed of undergrowth. 



23. In addition to the large area within which the whole 

 of the low jungle has been cut and stacked into heaps for 

 burning, a considerable number of trees was felled and 

 cut up along the west face of the Rock and round the 

 principal groups of boulders (" Audience Hall," " Cistern 

 Rock," " Preaching Rock," &c.) to better open out the view. 



24. It is now for the first time practicable to get a 

 comprehensive view of the western side of Sigiri-gala from 

 the commencement of the approach near " Cistern Rock." 



(2) Excavations. 



25. (a) On the Summit. — Survey Plan (B) shows that the 

 general fall of the ground — doubtless following the slope 

 of the living rock below — is from west to east, and less 

 abruptly from north to south. This natural declination was 

 evidently turned to account in the adaptation of the ground 

 for the terraces and buildings which once occupied it. The 

 terraces along the high ground bordering the west edge and 

 stretching inwards to about the axis of the hill, fall away 

 very gradually from north to south, as do those from the 

 central pokuna or pond, to the south and east verge of the 

 Rock. The steepest bank runs longitudinally south from the 

 north end of the Rock (marking the high ground off from the 

 low level area excavated this year) to the pokuna, where the 

 slope must be 40 ft. high, and upwards. The only high bank 

 lying east and west adjoins the Rock's north-east edge,* but 

 there are low banks south of the pond. 



26. The ground worked this year lies between (i.) the 

 high back-bone slope down the centre, (ii.) the north-east 

 verge of the Rock and (iii.) the pokuna, with (iv.) a portion 

 on the south-west around the rock cistern. The whole area 

 completed equals an acre or more.f 



* Album, C 429. 430, and Drawing (C). 

 f See Plan (B), 



15—95 



E. 



