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



with a tough plaster, white and polished, that has resisted 

 the damp in places to this day. The massiveness of many of 

 these walls bespeaks considerable height originally, despite 

 the fact that the brickwork was almost dry -laid and indif- 

 ferently bonded crosswise. But in " make " these ancient 

 bricks — some a cubit in length—shame most of our modern 

 outturn, being as well burnt as they are sharp and close. 



Of the system of roofing we know nothing beyond the 

 certainty that it was timbered throughout and flat-tiled, in 

 the style familiar among the Anuradhapura ruins. 



A marked feature of the ground plan is the erratic location 

 of steps. As often as not, they are pushed aside from the 

 centre of the rooms into which they lead, and relegated to 

 all sorts of odd corners. This vagary was no doubt forced 

 upon the architects by the unconformable surface of the 

 rock, which had to be reckoned with everywhere. 



But noteworthy, above all, is the complete absence of 

 monolith pillars and stone-carved doorways, the most salient 

 characteristic of ancient structures in the Island. Whilst 

 quartzous steps and flagstones were lavishly employed 

 to enhance the beauty of this peerless citadel, not one 

 fragment of column, door-frame, or window-sash in stone 

 has come to light on Sigiri-gala. Above the floor all was 

 of brick or wood. As for gneiss, with the sole exception of 

 the noble throne above mentioned — like silver in the days 

 of Solomon — " it was nothing accounted of," and finds no 

 place in Kasyapa's citadel. 



Little wonder that the glory of a structure, towering to 

 heaven on the dizzy heights of Sigiri-gala, " white as snow " 

 within and without, should call forth irresistably the un- 

 alloyed admiration of the old chronicler, not given to spare 

 its master-hand, King Kasyapa, " that wicked ruler of men." 

 " He built there," so it is written, " a lovely palace splendid 

 to behold, like unto a second Alakamanda, and lived there 

 like (its lord) Kuvera." # 



* Mahdivansa, XXXIX., p. 5. 



