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



people and the religion from the disturber," was Subha 



Senapati, a noted general. 



He built a city like unto Alakamanda on the top of Subha Pabbata, 

 a mountain difficult of access to the enemy, and dwelt there like unto 

 Vessavana, keeping at a distance the Kerala demons and defending 

 that portion of the country and the religion thereof.* 



When King Parakrama Bahu II., owing to old age and 

 infirmity, made over the government of the kingdom to his 

 son Vijaya Bahu IV. at about the close of the thirteenth 

 century, the latter selected his brother Bhuvaneka Bahn to 

 " command the great army that held the northern country," 

 and sent him "to tarry at Sundara Pabbata (Yapahuwa) 

 as an outpost against the invading Tamils."! 



The ruler of the land then journeyed throughout the 

 country and, after a visit to Kurunegala, took with him " the 

 four-fold army" to Suhhagiri (Yapahuwa.) At this time 

 Chandabhanu, at the head of a powerful army, proceeded 

 to and encamped at Yapahuwa, but he and his men were 

 utterly defeated and put to confusion after " a fierce battle 

 like unto the battle of Rama."t 



Thereafter the king — 



enclosed that city with a high wall and a moat, and built there and 

 finished a palace of exceeding great beauty, and made provision for 

 the support of the great priesthood that dwelt in that city. And he 

 encouraged his younger brother Bhuwaneka Bahu and caused him to 

 stay there as before. § 



On the murder of King Vijaya Bahu in the second year of 

 his reign, at the instigation of his treacherous General Mitta, 

 Prince Bhuvaneka Bahu, who was then in Dambadeniya, fled 

 from that city and journeyed by night in a litter to 

 Subhdchala (Yapahuwa). Mitta's men overtook him, and 

 hurled their pointed weapons at the litter with such fury 

 that the trappings gave way. The prince leaped out of the 

 carriage and made his escape to Kalagalla, where, mounting 

 an elephant, he crossed the great river Kolabhinna, which 



* Mahaivansa, LXXXL, p. 271. 

 f Ibid., LXXXVIIL, p. 308. 



t MaMwanm, LXXXVIIL, p. 305. 

 § Ibid., LXXXVIIL, p. 306. 



