No. 44.— 1893.] 



KURUNEGALA VISTARAYA. 



37 



situation being to the north of Vilbdwa, and occupying a 

 central position near the rocks JEtd-gala, Tbbd-gala, and 

 Kuruminiyd-gala* 



[The Vistaraya then enumerates the trees, the beasts, the 

 birds, including the fabulous birds, and other bipeds and 

 quadrupeds to be found in the city ; and refers to a row of 

 lakes with good ferries to facilitate bathing, and containing 

 pleasant and sweet waters, with the lotus and blue and white 

 lily floating thereon. By the row of lakes is doubtless meant 

 Udawattavewa (the Kurunegala tankf), Wannahavewa 

 (now a field), Weneruvewa, and Vilgodavew a.~] 



There are four parapet walls surrounding the rock on which 

 the sun-god is worshipped. Four palaces stand on the rock,{ 

 and below it four parapet walls. For the protection of the 

 city there is a battery (adhdra bemmd).\ 



Below Kuruiveniyagala stands the royal stores [the dimen- 

 sion — probably the length — of which is given as 80 cubits] : 

 from the sleeping palace] of the king it is 12 fathoms to 

 Kuruweniyagala, 35 fathoms to Ibbd-gala, and 20 fathoms to 

 the great stone wall \mahd gal idppa, probably the battery 

 hereinbefore referred to] on the west ; and 12 fathoms to 

 the south stands the Nirdviya. 



* For derivations of these names, and legends and traditions about 

 these rocks, with notes on temples standing thereon or connected 

 therewith, see " The Animal-shaped Rocks of Kurunegala." (I. <?.) 



f For a description of this tank, which is 104 acres in extent, and said 

 to have been built in 1319 by King Bhuwaneka Bahu III., as well as for 

 other interesting particulars regarding it and Wenneruwewa tank, see 

 Ceylon Literary Register, Vol. VI., pp. 380-3. 



% Forbes, in his Eleven Tears in Ceylon (Vol. I., pp. 193-4), refers to the 

 remains of buildings on the bare rock (Etd-gala~),\one of which contained 

 the dalada relic removed thither by Bhuwaneka Bahu from the more 

 ancient capital of Polonaruwa, 1319 a.d. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell 

 (Vol. II., pp. 81-2), referring to these ruins, concludes " that they must in 

 former days have been intended for religious purposes." 



§ The Mdhawansa records that Vijaya Bahu II." surrounded it (Hatthigiri) 

 with a wall and a moat, and such like works." — Ch. LXXXVIII., English 

 translation, p. 305. 



|| Referring to 'Eta-gala, Casie Chitty says {Ceylon Gazetteer, pp. 145-6): 

 " At the west end of the hill the kings of Kurunegala had a palace," on the 



