NO. 47. — 1896.] ANCIENT CITIES AND TEMPLES. 145 



yearly return of Es. 11,204, equal to 17 per cent, on the 

 expenditure. If neither be adopted, the Government will 

 have an increase from tithes alone on the lands irrigated and 

 that will be irrigated of Rs. 8,023. 



Considering that the restoration of this tank, large though 

 the cost may appear, offers no illusory prospect of a good 

 revenue, and will be productive of lasting benefits to 

 thousands of people, in a sanitary, social, and financial aspect, 

 and be the means of encouraging the extension of paddy 

 cultivation that will be accompanied by the corresponding 

 decrease of chena cultivation, it is hoped the work will be 

 undertaken before long. 



The Ddgohas and their Ruins. 



Some two hundred yards from the bund of the tank are the 

 ruins of a dagoba, one side of which appears to have been 

 broken into by thieves in quest of treasure invariably 

 enshrined in dagobas. The dagoba is surrounded by rock 

 pillars, which evidently supported a roof. Near here was 

 lately found part of a sedent stone image of Buddha. A 

 large slab of rock indicates the threshold of the entrance to 

 the temple. The centre of the slab is worn hollow, attri- 

 buted to the passing to and from the temple of the thousands 

 of pilgrims ! In the vicinity of the temple and dagoba are 

 several square granite pillars in the form of a square, pro- 

 bably the site of a pansala. 



About two or three hundred yards to the south stands 

 Kota-vehera, which was in 1877 broken into by thieves. 

 The circumstance was communicated to Mr. Saunders, then 

 Government Agent of the Province, and led to the explora- 

 tion of the ruins and important discoveries. 



Mr. Saunders, on January 13, 1877, wrote to the Governor, 

 Sir W. H. Gregory :— 



For some weeks past there has been a rumour current that there 

 are large treasures buried somewhere in the Crown jungles now 

 growing on the site of the old city of Panduwas Nuwara. Just before 

 Christmas a Malay man applied to me for permission to search for 

 treasure on condition of receiving one-half of what be found. I had 



