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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. X1Y„ 



(5 ft.) than its fellow on the west (cleared last year), it will 

 nevertheless serve as a welcome augmentation of our 

 drinking water in 1897. 



I also had the mysterious pit, or well, on the high bank 

 near the north edge dug out, in the vague hope that the 

 native tradition regarding a passage into the bowels of 

 Sigiri-gala might possibly here find confirmation. The hope 

 was soon dashed : a natural depression in the Rock's surface 

 at this point had anciently been utilized for no other 

 purpose than an additional cistern, enclosed within thick 

 walls of brick. 



Further, to ascertain the sectional construction of the 

 citadel, a deep trench, cut down to the bare rock, was 

 begun from the southernmost verge, and run some distance 

 northwards. On this subject I may have more to say in a 

 subsequent Report. Meanwhile, it may be noted that the 

 foundations of the brick walls rest on built rubble stone, 

 standing on the Rock matrix. 



Finally, digging out and cleaning the large pokuna gave a 

 gcod deal of trouble. 



Undug, the pond had the appearance of a shapeless pool, 

 with ragged sloping sides, due to the collapse of the 

 surroundin g brick walls. It contained some 5 ft. of half- 

 stagnant water, so sour from rotting vegetation that even 

 the hardened Tamil cooly shrank from drinking it. As 

 clearing proceeded it became evident that the pokuna ., like 

 the smaller cisterns, was rectangular, and of dimensions 

 considerably in excess of anticipation. 



Fully excavated, it measures about 90 ft. by 68 ft. On the 

 west and north-west the rock core rises steeply, and a deep 

 slice had originally to be cut into it to get a squared corner 

 for the pond, so that each side might be approximately of 

 equal length and parallel. Along the other sides, where the 

 Roc 1 ' was scooped out to a depth of no more than 3 to 4 ft., a 

 massive brick wall was built as a bund to hold up flood water 

 when the pond was full. Excepting the rock-stair on the 

 west, the only steps down to the pokuna, now apparent, were 



