260 



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



of coolies, under an overseer, has already been sent ahead 

 to construct new " lines " (those in use for the past two 

 years having rotted beyond repair), clear the summit, &c, 

 for next season's work. 



4. A discussion followed the reading of the Paper, in which the 

 Chairman, and Messrs. Ferguson, Cull, and Harward took part. 



5. Mr. Ferguson said he had much pleasure in proposing a cordial 

 vote of thanks to H. E. the Governor for graciously consenting to spare 

 Mr. Bell's Report to the Society, as well as to Mr. Bell himself for the 

 important Paper just read, and the pains he had taken to interest and 

 enlighten the Meeting by the rich display of drawings, photographs, 

 and paintings in illustration of it. 



Mr. C. M. Fernando seconded, and, in doing so, said that he 

 was of the same opinion as last year, viz., that in the Buddhist 

 caves in the Deccan there were frescoes of a similar type to, and 

 contemporaneous with, those at Sigiriya, relating to Ceylon history. 

 From that he deduced that it was not Indian artists who came here, 

 but Sinhalese who went over there. He made the statement on the 

 authority of Sir Emerson Tennent, who declared that the first discovery 

 of painting in oils was made by the Sinhalese. 



With regard to the Roman coins — of which mention had been made 

 in the Paper — it was not a matter of great surprise, because there was 

 certainly communication between the Court of Rome and that of Ceylon 

 in ancient times ; and it was a well known fact in history that an 

 Embassy headed by an Arachchi had visited Rome and been received 

 by the Emperor Claudius. 



The motion was carried unanimously. 



6. The Meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair. 



30 AUa. 93 



GEORGE J. A. SKEEN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, COLOMBO, CEYLON. 



