98 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XV. 



has proved successful even beyond expectation. No hitch 

 occurred : all went well from first to last ; and, as the result, 

 the heavy task provisionally mapped out at the start was 

 accomplished fully. 



The work got through in the four months may be con- 

 veniently classed as in former Reports, under— 



(1) Exploration and Survey 



of S'igiri-nuwara. 



(2) Excavations. 



(3) Miscellaneous. 



(4) Copying the Frescoes. 



Succinctly — the "Mdpd-gala" Rocks to the south of Sigiri- 

 gala, and the bunds to its east, have been freed of jungle 

 and explored ; the survey of the wide area once occupied by 

 the ancient city completed ; the western and north-western 

 portions of the Rock's summit dug up (bringing to a close 

 the excavation of the citadel) ; ascent to the top of Slgiri- 

 gala made doubly safe ; and, above all (for the speedy 

 reproduction of these unique paintings, yearly dwindling, 

 had become of much moment), the whole of the sixteen 

 frescoes remaining untouched in 1896 have been copied in 

 oils by Mr. D. A. L. Perera, Head Draughtsman of the 

 Archaeological Survey. 



(1) Exploration and Survey of Sigiri-nuwara. 



As usual, it was not until the end of April that the Sinha- 

 lese villagers of the Inamalawa Korale cared to leave their 

 paddy fields and seek work in clearing the forest under- 

 growth and low jungle, which covered parts of the ancient 

 city not opened out in 1895 and 1896,* 



This year the two low bunds which run eastwards from the 

 Rock roughly parallel for more than a mile, were followed 

 until lost in higher ground. Their object is open to doubt : 

 perhaps they helped to retain in this direction the water of 

 " Mahd Sigiri-vewa" the huge tank that served the city 

 in former days. Its chief bund, uniting Stgiri-gala with 



* On the " Rough Plan of SigiTi-nXiwara" accompanying this Report the 

 extent cleared in 1895 is coloured dark green, — in 1896, a lighter shade, — 

 in 1897, pale green. 



