76 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIII. 



Bintenna. In these districts, by the energy of Sir A. H. Gordon 

 and Mr, F. Fisher, field hospitals have lately been established, 

 and my colleague, Mr. Dunnett, is promoting schools. That 

 this region was in Parakrama's time either very populous 

 or highly civilized the Mahdivansa does not imply ; but it 

 implies a condition considerably in advance of that to which 

 that country has now sunk ; and I indulge the hope that the 

 connection of which I am reminding you between these 

 fever-stricken districts and the most illustrious name in 

 Sinhalese history may contribute in some slight degree to 

 promote their restoration. 



Parakrama conducted the war, as far as his own part in it 

 went, with moderation ; but he was not able altogether to 

 restrain the violence of his soldiers, and this violence and 

 rapacity gave rise to the one reverse which, as far as I have 

 noticed, attended Parakrama's arms in this part of his 

 career. The chiefs and inhabitants of the invaded country 

 invited the assistance of Manabharana, Parakrama's con sin, 

 son of Vallabha, who still held one of the divisions of the 

 southern country. This prince, though really insignificant, 

 was weak enough to think that the crisis was his opportunity, 

 and that he could first assist Gaja Bahu to repel Parakrama, 

 and then step himself into Parakrama's position and defeat 

 Gaja Bahu. He came northward suddenly, joined his forces 

 to those of the northern king, and inflicted a severe defeat 

 on the army of our hero (who seems at the time to have 

 been in the south), and then treacherously seized Gaja Bahu, 

 and proposed to put him to death. 



Parakrama soon repelled Manabharana, and of course had 

 Gaja Bahu at his mercy ; and the kingdom was then virtually 

 his own. This gave the hero an occasion for the exercise of 

 a splendid generosity. The defeated king Gaja, in despair 

 of any other refuge, entreated the Buddhist monks of 

 Polonnaruwa to intercede for him ; and at their suggestion 

 Parakrama gave back to his vanquished opponent the crown 

 which had been the object of his whole life's enterprise, and 

 returned to his own country. 



