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



60. A lengthy correspondence with the District Engineer, 

 Matale, has so far failed to result in the carrying into 

 practical execution of any plan for enabling my draughts- 

 man to ascend and copy the frescoes. I trust, however, that 

 the Public Works Department will solve the difficulty (not 

 great) before 1896, and thus permit of my securing exact 

 copies in oils of these unique specimens of ancient chromatic 

 art, before swallows and bees together complete their des- 

 truction.* 



61. In conclusion, I should add that the huts and "cooly 

 lines " have been placed by the Assistant Government Agent, 

 Matale, in charge of the Arachchi and village headman, and 

 will be available for occupation next year, with fresh leafing. 



62. I propose, with the approval of the Government, to 

 resume work at Sigiriya on or about February 1, 1896, and 

 to continue operations until the high wind commences about 

 the end of April. 



4. His Excellency the Governor remarked that the Paper which 

 had been read exhibited in a conspicuous degree the laborious, exhaustive, 

 and able way in which Mr. Bell always did his work. An opportunity 

 was now given to anybody present to supplement, or to illustrate, what 

 had been already said by further descriptions and remarks. He 

 saw among those present Mr. A. Murray, who was intimately 

 acquainted with Sigiri Rock, more particularly as was shown by 

 his copies of the frescoes now hung in the Museum hard by ; and he 

 was sure they would all be very glad if Mr. Murray would give them 

 some further descriptive remarks on that interesting subject. 



Mr. A. Murray said that he had had the active assistance in the 

 copying of the frescoes of Mr. F. J. Pigott, of the Public Works 

 Department, and also the co-operation of Mr. S. M, Burrows, then 

 Assistant Agent, Matale. But in spite of the aid of those two gentle- 

 men, it was most difficult to get the natives round Sigiriya to render 

 any assistance, on account of the great superstition that existed. The 

 headmen and priests had warned the villagers that any one assisting 

 him in any way would be utterly annihilated. He had then to fall 

 back upon two Canarese, one of whom on getting to the overhanging 

 portion of the rock, found that he was thrown over the precipice 

 as it were. He declined to work any further, except on the condition 

 that he should be allowed to fast for three days. Thinking this would 

 make the man lighter (laughter) Mr. Murray allowed him to fast, 

 and then he successfully resumed work. While he was copying the 



* I noticed that the execrable (and by no means modern) mania for 

 scribbling names and initials, which has already so greatly disfigured the 

 •'gallery" walls, has even reached the fresco "pockets," where names of 

 Tamil workmen may be seen scrawled on the very paintings ! 



