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



In the Vavuniya District the largest Buddhist establish- 

 ments were situated in Kilakkumulai South in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Periyapuliyankulam, Erupotana, and Madukanda. 

 The rocks at Erupotana and Periyapuliyankulam have been 

 explored. " They are full of caves, nearly all of which are 

 partly artificial." Mr. Fowler " found a great many caves 

 and inscriptions which the villagers had never seen before. 

 In some there were remains of brickwork.* A stone enclosure 

 was found, which probably surrounded a bo-tree." 



On another visit more inscriptions were found, and a 

 curious circular building on the summit of the smaller hill. 

 The remains of a flight of steps are to be traced leading from 

 the large caves and bo-tree enclosure at the foot of the hill 

 up to this building. There are also about forty or fifty stone 

 pillars about 8 ft, high standing round the foot of the 

 larger boulder on which the building is erected. Some 

 appear to be the supports of a verandah or roof in front of 

 the caves, and others are probably the remains of a pilima-ge, 

 but no statue could be found. The site of the hill was 

 evidently terraced formerly.! 



At Erupotana an inscription was found on a rock near the 

 channel through the bund. 



The hill is nearly as rich in inscriptions as the Periyapuliyankulam 

 hills. There is one over a large cave with a broken statue of Buddha, 

 a pedestal of a sedent Buddha, and other carved stones. The cave is 

 peculiar, as it has a kind of well in it, which has been partly excavated 

 in search of treasure. 



The cave was covered with chunam, probably painted formerly. In 

 another cave we found a piece of ancient pottery, apparently a piece of 

 a priest's begging-bowl. On the summit of the rock there was a 

 dagaba. The level space on the top of the rock has traces of buildings. 

 There are holes cut in the rock, which probably held the supports of a 

 ladder formerly. There must have been an extraordinary number of 

 priests about this neighbourhood.^ 



* December 12, 1886. Mr. Parker copied fifteen inscriptions on this 

 occasion. 



t July 14, 1887. 



* Diary of December 17, 1886. 



