90 



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



1881, and one volume of the Journal was printed by a private firm. 

 This experiment was found to be too costly for the Society's funds ; 

 and in 1883 another appeal was made for Government help. The 

 Society was then allowed to have its Journal printed at the Govern- 

 ment Press on payment of the compositors' charges and price of 

 paper. 



This privilege has been enjoyed continuously from 1883 to 1895, 

 and, as no very cogent reason has been given for its withdrawal, the 

 Council hope that the Government will reconsider the question of 

 imposing a charge which so seriously hampers the Society's work. 



Archaeology. 



The Council has again to thank the Archaeological Commissioner 

 for a short resume of the operations of the Archaeological Survey 

 during the past year. 



Owing to the curtailment of the Archaeological Vote last year, 

 operations had to be more restricted than in 1894. No excavations 

 were attempted for three months during the dry season. 



The actual work done during 1895 was briefly as follows : — 



Sigiriya. — Commencement of the survey of " Sigiri Nuwara " and 

 of excavations both on the summit of and below the Great Rock. 

 Roughly speaking, about one-third of the site of the ancient city, or 

 fortress, was cleared of undergrowth : on the top of Sigiri-gala, and 

 round its base, perhaps a fourth of the passages, walls, &c, has been 

 laid bare. A summary of the work at Sigiriya in 1895 was placed 

 before the Asiatic Society in the Archaeological Commissioner's "Interim 

 Report " to the Government on the operations of the Archaeological 

 Survey between February 24 and May 12. 



A fresh start will be made at this interesting site next February. 



Anurddhapura. — (a) Toluvila. — Some additional ruins were dis- 

 covered here early in the year — one an elliptical building — and dealt 

 with. The excavation of the whole of the Toluvila group is now 

 finished. This monastery rivals in completeness and interest any yet 

 exposed at Anuradhapura. 



(&) Sela Chaitiya Dagaba, — This little dagaba mound, lying between 

 Ruwanveli Seya and Abhayagiriya Dagaba, was dug into. 



It proves to be of the " Vijayarama" type, with a boldly moulded 

 platform of stone slabs, all in situ, but displaced. Its restoration by 

 the Buddhist community is said to be contemplated. If properly 

 restored, the Sela Chaitiya will be one of the most attractive shrines 

 at Anuradhapura. 



(c) A small ruined basement of quartz, with elephant and lion 

 head dado, was unearthed in private land close to the Kurunegala 

 road half a mile from the town, late in 1894. This ruin has been 

 further excavated, and has yielded some fine carvings and fragments 

 of a " Buddhist-rail." 



(d) Thupdrdma. — Main attention has been given to the complete 

 excavation of the buildings surrounding this Dagaba. The small 

 mound, popularly styled " Sanghamitta's Tomb," and a second mound y 

 very similar, proved to have been rifled centuries ago. Among 

 the chief buildings belonging to Thuparama are the " Dalada Mali- 

 gawa," and the fine pillared " pansala" of the monks. All have been 

 cleanly dug ; and in addition about half of the high brick wall encircling 

 the ancient Dagaba itself has been exposed to view. 



