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



reason to suppose that he had already assured himself of success, and 

 wishing to place an effective guard on his operations when he began 

 to dig, I referred the matter to the Ratemahatmaya, and desired the 

 petitioner to wait until after the holidays. During my absence at 

 Christmas it seems that a large number of persons assembled, dug the 

 spot where the treasure was supposed to be, and carried off, some say 

 a large quantity, and some only a small quantity.* I have instituted a 

 strict inquiry and J. P. proceedings, and have recovered some of the 

 treasure, consisting of a gold Jcaranduwa, a gold Buddha, some small 

 gems, and some curious brassware,"}" but most of the thieves have ab- 

 sconded, and I believe I have only recovered a small portion of the booty. 

 I am, however, informed that the thieves only penetrated into one 

 chamber of this treasure vault, and that there is reason to suppose a 

 large quantity of treasure is still to be found. I purpose, therefore, 

 to proceed to the spot on Saturday next and make proper search. I 

 trust you will approve of my spending a small sum of money, if 

 necessary, in this investigation. The city of Panduwas Nuwara was 

 the principal city of Ceylon some 2,300 years ago. The articles I 

 have already recovered are evidently of great antiquity, but having 

 been ill-treated and broken by the thieves are almost useless. I 

 propose to make a careful search, so as not to injure the articles which 

 may still be left, and I shall report the result of my search without 

 delay to you. There is a book extant which purports to give the 

 contents of the several vaults wherein treasure has been buried by 

 the ancient kings of the country, and the following extract states what 

 treasures are supposed to be buried on the spot now discovered : — 



Extract from a copy of a booh called 11 Wadula." 

 " In the Kota-wehera of Panduwas Nuwara-kele there are nine 

 "kurunies of waragam, twelve gems, twenty- four relics, one gold 

 " shrine, a little pearl, and some namaguna beads. They are the 

 " riches offered to the vehera of King Tissa Maha." 



Then follows the extract already cited and furnished at 

 the commencement of this Paper, by Jayatilaka Mudaliyar, 

 who adds : — 



And it was during his (Tisso) reign that Kota-wehera alias Tissama- 

 vehera must have been erected about the year 454 B.C., as described 

 in a book called " Wadula." If these facts are to be admitted, we may 

 safely assert that the karanduwa and the pilima are 2,331 years old. 



* These rumours were, however, untrue. A few brass lamps, an earthen 

 basin, and a few rough and worthless jewels were all that they had 

 obtained ; for they only penetrated to the chamber by a deep hole, and 

 had not time sufficient for their purpose. {Administration Report, North- 

 Western Province, 1876.) 



t Most of these were sent to the Museum by Mr. Saunders, and are 

 included among the exhibits in the " Antiquities Room." 



