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



mentioned as one of the Europeans who had scaled Sigiriya before the 

 rickety bamboo ladders had been replaced by iron ones and an iron rail. 



5. Mr. R. W. Ievers said he had some remarks to offer in a spirit of 

 contrition, as he had visited Sigiriya several times, but more with a 

 view to bear-shooting than the acquisition of archaeological lore. He 

 had another matter of self-abasement and apology to offer. Mr. Bell 

 had justly complained of the vandalism of visitors who had inscribed 

 their obscure names on the beautiful chunam of the gallery. He was, 

 alas ! a vandal. He had placed his obscure name there. His only 

 apology was that it was through a desire to inscribe it close to 

 that of one of His Excellency's illustrious predecessors, who had not 

 alone been Governor of Ceylon, but had ruled the Presidency of 

 Madras. Mr. levers confessed embarrassment in fulfilling the wish of 

 the Committee that he should propose a vote of thanks to Mr. Bell for 

 the valuable Paper they had just heard read. It was due to the 

 Governor that they had an opportunity of hearing the Paper, which 

 had been furnished by Mr. Bell as an official Report. While acknow- 

 ledging His Excellency's benevolence to the Society, the Meeting might 

 none the less thank Mr. Bell for the care and pains he had taken in 

 one of the chief branches in which the Royal Asiatic Society was 

 interested, namely, Archaeology. He had therefore no further hesi- 

 tation in moving that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. Bell. 



Mr. Staniforth Green seconded the motion. 



His Excellency, in putting the motion to the Meeting, spoke again 

 of the thoroughness with which Mr. Bell had done the work 

 entrusted to him. 



The motion was carried with acclamation. 



6. Mr. J. Ferguson said the pleasant duty had just been committed 

 to him of moving a cordial vote of thanks to His Excellency the 

 Governor for presiding over the Meeting. An additional reason was 

 afforded in the fact mentioned by Mr. levers that the Society was 

 indebted to the Governor for Mr. Bell's Paper. But he believed the 

 oldest Member would bear him out in saying that no previous Governor 

 had more readily and consistently given his countenance and support 

 to their Society than had Sir Arthur Havelock. (Applause.) This 

 might be a farewell appearance of His Excellency at a Meeting of the 

 Society, though he hoped not ; but if it was, an additional interest 

 was lent from the fact that the Paper read had to do with that 

 Archaeological Survey which His Excellency had made it his special 

 object to promote. It was also of interest to them, that in Southern 

 India the Governor would be in a land closely connected with the 

 past history of Ceylon, and when matters arose of local interest His 

 Excellency would probably not forget the Ceylon Branch of the 

 Royal Asiatic Society. He moved a very cordial vote of thanks. 

 (Applause.) 



Mr. F. M. Mackwood seconded the motion, which was carried with 

 applause. 



7. His Excellency, in aoknowleding the vote, said : I beg to thank 

 Mr. Ferguson for the very kind way in which he has proposed this 

 vote of thanks, and the Meeting for the very cordial way in which you 

 have received it. The fact that my leaving Ceylon will not take me 

 far from you is some little consolation to me in the great feeling of 

 regret with which I anticipate my departure from amongst you. 

 (Loud applause.) 



The Meeting then terminated. 



