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



The two windows were filled in with bricks faced in 

 cement to give a support to the right window, the carved 

 stone over it being badly broken in its fall to the bottom, 

 and for the sake of harmony in the other. 



The frame of the right window was found with the 

 exception of two or three pieces, which could easily be 

 dressed and fitted ; but the carved tracery work, save a very 

 few pieces, is still missing. If this frame were fixed, even 

 without the carved work, Mr. Williams thought a replica of 

 the frame of the window in Colombo would be required for 

 the other side. It was found necessary to point most of the 

 joints in cement, to keep off vegetation, which has been the 

 ruin of all ancient buildings in Ceylon.* 



Mr. Williams proposed that the ground between the palace 

 and the rock should be excavated by running cross trenches 

 to ascertain if any buildings existed there. Another place 

 where excavation might yield interesting and satisfactory 

 results is, he conjectured, at the steps leading into the city 

 on the tank side, as everything that came in and went out of 

 the city must have passed over these steps. 



Although these proposed excavations were to be taken in 

 hand shortly after the restoration of the Palace, for one reason 

 and another they were ultimately abandoned. It is to be 

 hoped that they may be undertaken by the Archaeological 

 Commissioner when he is free to extend his labours in this 

 direction. 



It is much to be regretted that the restored buildings do 

 not receive sufficient attention, and lack all supervision. 

 The buildings and the surroundings could, with very little 

 trouble and expense, be looked after and kept clear of weeds 

 and jungle, but they are shamefully neglected. Steps should 



* For the substantial manner at least in which he executed the 

 work entrusted to him Mr. Williams deserves some credit ; but one 

 cannot help agreeing 1 with the remark of Sir Arthur Gordon (now 

 Lord Stanmore), on a visit paid to Yapahuwa in 1889, that : "A pity so 

 much mortar was used : it destroys the character of the ancient stone 

 work." 



