No. 46. — 1895.] PROCEEDINGS. 



9 



east to the west "chapel" the ground line of the dagaba has been 

 followed throughout (for some distance involving a deep cutting 8 ft. 

 wide through the mass of fallen bricks) and the stone pavement on 

 that side cleaned completely : along one quadrant — the south-east — 

 excavation was carried back to the bell-shaped core of the dagaba, so 

 as to exhibit the three circular " ambulatories," rising one above the 

 other. Finally, the four " chapels " were partially restored — that on 

 the north in most substantial fashion. A true idea of the actual outline 

 of the Abhayagiriya Dagaba, of its spacious quadrangle, and of the 

 chaste carvings at its " chapels," can now at length be gained. 



Toluvila ruins.— The ruins at Toluvila, near Nuwaravewa, have 

 more than fulfilled the expectations formed in 1893. The felling of 

 the undergrowth for a quarter of a mile around disclosed more and 

 more buildings, and as excavations advanced southwards from the main 

 quadrangle the extent of this magnificent monastery gradually unfolded 

 itself. 



The general plan of these ruins may be described curtly thus : — On the 

 north is a spacious raised quadrangle with four entrance porches and a 

 ramp of cut stone supporting brick elephants in high relief. The square 

 enclosure contains four shrines — a pilima-ge (image-house), dagaba, 

 umta-dd-ge (circular relic shrine), and a vihdre. From this quadrangle 

 runs, for some 250 yards or more, a wide street between two low walls 

 of dressed stone, passing over a plain smaller quadrangle and a 

 peculiar star-shaped " half-way house," until it reaches, on the south, 

 another large quadrangle. This encloses a smaller square at a higher 

 level, and that again a central vihare raised still higher, with pirivenas 

 (residences for monks) lying off its corners and beyond. On either 

 side of this fine street are many other pirivenas, with connected 

 buildings and outhouses laid out with wonderful symmetry. The 

 whole of the trees on the street have been removed, root and branch, 

 and the vista opened out from one main quadrangle to the other 

 through the forest is as picturesque as it is unique. In several 

 respects the Toluvila monastery stands unrivalled among the ruins of 

 Anuradhapura yet cleared and excavated. 



Jetawandrdma ruins. — In addition to the work done at Abhayagiriya 

 Dagaba and Toluvila a commencement was made at the Jetawanarama 

 ruins. Here two distinct monasteries — each complete in itself and 

 within its own enclosure wall of stone slabs — were excavated in the 

 • course of the year, the one a little north of the Kuttam pohunu 

 (" Twin ponds "), and the other immediately adjoining the Jetawa- 

 narama Dagaba, also on the north. Both monasteries are of consider- 

 able interest. 



Circuit Work. — A circuit in the south-east and south-west Korales 

 of the North-Central Province was cut short by the Archaeological 

 Commissioner's sudden transfer to Kalutara in April. The most 

 interesting place visited was Elagomuva-kanda in the Kalagam Korale, 

 a small elongated hill pierced at its south end by several caves with 

 inscriptions in the old cave character. 



Miscellaneous. — At Anuradhapura the four lower courses of the fine 

 stone " Buddhist Railing " were set up, the cost being defrayed from 

 a portion of the sum of Rs. 600 voted by this Society for the purpose. 

 The. work should be finished this year. 



