52 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [YOL. XIV. 



39. That on the north — six nights of steps at least, with 

 intermediate landings— mounts straight up due east from 

 the ground just outside a stone gateway a little north-east of 

 the " Audience Hall, " until, nearing the Rock, it converges 

 to the south-east, and probably met the termination of the 

 south approach at the " gallery." * 



40. Some of these quartz staircases had as many as 

 twenty to thirty steps, beautifully dressed, and several are 

 still in excellent preservation. 



41. What buildings, &c, lay between the two approaches 

 must be left for another season's excavation to settle. 



42. Between the "Audience Hall" and the "Cistern" 

 rocks runs a narrow gorge or passage, and below their 

 north-west and south-west angles respectively are two caves 

 formed by the overhanging rock. Both these caves as well 

 as the passage have been excavated. 



43. A flight of steps leads down into the gorge,t and 

 there is an exit flight at the back (west) of the " Cistern " 

 rock. 



44. The cave under this rock — erroneously styled the 

 " Queen's Bath," from a supposed connection with the cistern 

 above, equally misnamed the " King's Bath " — has evidently 

 been restored at some period. This was obvious from the 

 low wall of wrought slabs with mouldings which surrounded 

 the central rock-cut asanaya having been built up irregularly 

 in brick walls. These had to be demolished and the cave 

 freed of a heavy accumulation of debris; the removal of 

 which brought down part of the rock roof that had been 

 loosened by damp and age, necessitating cautious blasting 

 and a fresh clearance. During the last week of work the 

 cave was finally emptied of fallen stone, brick, and earth ; 

 the moulded slab wall properly re-set ; and a neat brick wall 

 built on two sides to hide the fissures running back into 

 the bowels of the rock.J 



* Album, C 458, 45P, 464. f Album, C 466 J Album, C 467, 



