NO. 48.— 1897.] PROCEEDINGS, 



7 



(c) Puliyankulam Monastery. — The same party next commenced 

 excavating the extensive monastery bordering the Jaffna road at the 

 junction with "MacBride's Deviation." So far, only three of the four 

 shrines of the inner enclosure, and two or three buildings outside, have 

 been finished. This monastery, though larger, so closely resembles 

 " Vijayarama " that it probably belongs to the same period. 



(d) Eldla Sohona. — The examination of the tree-covered hillock, 

 popularly known as "Elala's Tomb," situated a few hundred yards 

 south of the sacred Bo-tree, and adjoining the Kurunegala road, 

 has at last been undertaken. The identification of this site is one 

 of the chief problems connected with the ancient city remaining to be 

 solved. 



Two broad trenches are being run into the circular mound on the 

 east and north sides. As soon as the plinth of the structure is reached 

 the two gangs will turn respectively north and eastwards until they 

 meet. Subsequent action must depened on the experience gained at 

 this quadrant. 



Circuit Work. 



August and September were devoted to the thorough exploration 

 of the Yilachchiya Korale, the wildest part of the North- Central 

 Province. The greater portion of this huge Korale is virtually 

 terra incognita and quite uninhabited, save when overrun during the 

 dry season by gangs of Moors from the west coast, illicitly bent 

 on the wholesale extermination of game. Magnificent tanks, such as 

 Maha, and Kuda, Yilachchiya, long breached and abandoned, testify 

 to the ancient prosperity of this part of the Island, now cursed by 

 want of water. Archseologically, the Yilachchiya Korale is com- 

 paratively barren ; though more antiquities will undoubtedly come to 

 light when this neglected division becomes once more peopled. 



Leaving the Puttalam road on the 24th of August, and moving 

 with baggage-coolies, the expedition traversed the almost unknown 

 Gal-ge Wanni, Moragalla Wanni, Vil Patluwa (" lake district "), 

 Vilachchi Wanni, and the Pichcliampattu Tulana, emerging finally at 

 the Mannar road — having struck but one village in the five weeks' 

 march between August 31 and October 4 ! 



The interminable Jcatu-pat, or thorn jungles, the narrow tracks in 

 hot, deep sand, and the exceeding scarcity of water, rendered this 

 circuit the most trying yet accomplished by the Archaeological 

 Survey. 



Three or four days were given to Tantri-malai — by far the most 

 interesting site in the Vilachchiya Korale. The beautifully carved 

 colossal images of Buddha (seated and prone), rock-hewn as at the 

 Gal-vihare, Polonnaruwa, were freed of jungle, and the debris partially 

 excavated. 



A varied and extensive set of photographs were secured during 

 the tour. 



With this circuit the Archaeological Survey has completed — a few 

 places worthy of a second visit excepted — the exploration of all the 

 seventeen Korales forming " Nuwarakslawiya " (i.e., the whole of the 

 vast North-Central Province, Tammankaduwa excluded), or an extent 

 of country covering approximately 3,000 square miles. 



Tammankaduwa will be examined in 1897. 



