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



And he identifies it with the tank Peliwapigama, which is 

 referred to in the Mahdwansa as situated seven yojanas 

 northward of the capital. A hunter finds some gems "in 

 the stream flowing through the broken embankment of the 

 tank." Mr. Parker remarks : — 



The distance of the existing road from Anuradhapura to a point on 

 the Central road due east of the tank is 56 miles ; while according to 

 the Mahdwansa the distance to the tank was 63 miles, a slight 

 difference, which may fully be accounted for by the more devious 

 route of the early path. The fact that a stream of size flowed through 

 the breach of the tank proves that it was an important one, and there is 

 no other large one at a suitable distance from Anuradhapura. Lastly, 

 the ancient name of the tank is especially applicable to this reservoir 

 only. Peliwapi is exactly the same as Palikkulam, from which it 

 seems to be evident that the river, the Pali-aru, has derived its name. 

 What is thus learnt regarding this reservoir proves that it was 

 abandoned, and the resort of hunters (and therefore more or less 

 overgrown with jungle), so early as 161 B.C., when Dutthagamini 

 ascended the throne. Its state at that period, however, shows that it 

 was breached at some considerably earlier date ; and as all that is 

 known regarding the Tamil occupants of Anuradhapura renders it 

 very unlikely that the work is of Tamil origin, the date of its 

 construction may be assigned with comparative certainty to some 

 period prior to 205 B.C., when Ilara became king. 



Mr. Parker thinks that it is mentioned also in an inscrip- 

 tion that is cut on a rock at Perami yankulam, Anuradhapura. 

 The inscription dates from the time of Wasabha, 66-110 

 A.D., and among other things it records the gift of the 

 Pali-nagara tank to the Thera Majjhima. Some ruins 

 that are said to be in the forest to the north-west of the tank 

 may be possibly the remains of this ndgara or city. The 

 jungle in which they occur is termed the Kovillcddu, 

 or "temple jungle."* 



These ruins have been inspected by Mr. H. Nevill, who 

 describes them thus :— - 



* Sessional Papers, 1886, pp. 468-469. See also Mr. Gr. M. Fowler's diary 

 of May 14, 1887. 



