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



the Island, and further testify to the world-wide commerce 

 and influence of ancient Rome. 



(5) Copying the Frescoes. 



A real commencement has at length been made in securing 

 facsimiles in oils of the unique frescoes of Sigiriya, as they 

 exist (with all natural * imperfections) at the present day. 



After protracted correspondence with the District Engineer^ 

 Matale, regarding the best means of gaining access to the 

 two " pockets," or small caves, containing the frescoes, — 

 trestle-staging from the " gallery " being at first fancied, but 

 finally condemned as too heavy and costly, — a suggestion of 

 the Provincial Engineer, Central Province, was adopted. 

 Mr. R. D. Ormsby proposed a vertical wire ladder, cane- 

 hooped, and securely fastened to iron jumpers above and 

 stout rings below — a mode of ascent theoretically simple 7 

 but requiring a firm hold and a sure head. This ladder 

 the Public Works Department could not get into position 

 for some time after the Archaeological Survey commenced 

 work at Sigiriya ; and, in consequence, the copying of the 

 frescoes was greatly delayed. 



The wire ladder, as fixed, falls perpendicularly within one 

 foot of the " gallery " wall to its floor from the shoulder of 

 the overhanging rock some 40 ft. up. From that point the 

 rock bends inwards for 4 ft. or so to the sloping floor of the 

 larger " pocket " " B " (38 ft. 4 in. x 11 ft. 8 in. x 12 ft. in 

 height). At the left, or north, end of " B " is a narrow 

 slanting ledge, only 1 ft. 6 in. wide x 3 ft. 6 in. high — the 

 sole possible approach to the second and much smaller 

 "pocket" "A" (20 ft. 9 in. x 3 f t. x 6 ft. 8 in.). 



At the head of the ladder, and along the edge of both 

 "pockets" and the ledge, iron standards 3 ft. 4 in. in 

 height, with a single top rail, were, at the outset, driven 

 into the Rock as an essential safeguard. Without such 



* The serious and unnecessary damage wrought artificially in 1889 (see 

 supra, note f, p. 256) has been ignored by the Archasological Survey 

 Draughtsman in copying the paintings. 



