NO. 47. — 18%.] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, SIGIRIYA. 255 



handrail a slip on the smooth inclined floor of the " pocket " 

 would mean instant death on the rocks fifty yards below.* 



Mr. Perera was not able to get to work on the frescoes 

 till the last week in March ; thereby losing nearly two 

 months of bright fine weather. 



As the result of this year's painting only six, or less than 

 one-third, of the whole set of ancient frescoes still preserved 

 in " pockets " " A " and " B " have so far been finished. If 

 all goes well, with an earlier start — for the unfortunate 

 delay of this year cannot recur — the remainder will be 

 copied in 1897. 



I prefer to keep back a full description of the frescoes 

 until I am in a position to deal with them as a whole. A 

 few brief particulars, however, will not be amiss here. 



The frescoes now existing on the west face of Sigiri-gala 

 (save patches of colour here and there) consist in whole, 

 or in part, of twenty-two half -figure portraits — all female : 

 five in " pocket " " A," seventeen in " B." The painting dates 

 back to the fifth century A.D. The figures of "pocket" "B " 

 are more than life size ; those of " A " smaller than life. 

 They are painted at the back, sides, and on the roof of the 

 "pockets" in colours most vivid — red. yellow, and green 

 alone — laid upon a thick coating of specially prepared 

 plaster. 



All the figures are intended to be depicted as moving in 

 the same direction — northwards. Some of the queens, prin- 

 cesses, or court ladies (if such the paintings represent)! 

 are accompanied by female servants. The latter are of a 

 different race seemingly, for they are painted a darker hue. 

 The flowers held by the ladies and their attendants may 

 signify that they are setting forth to worship at the ancient 



* So far but few men, and only one lady (April 24, 1896 : photographs, 

 C 622, 623), have cared to risk the perpendicular climb up to " pocket " " B," 

 and the still more hazardous crawl along the slippery canted ledge into 

 ;4 pocket" " A." 



f The clouds from which the demi-figures are made to emerge may 

 suggest goddesses. 



25—96 Q 



