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



it may still be possible to study the architecture of every 

 portion of the citadel, even when, as is inevitable, much now 

 standing shall have yielded to the " tooth of time and 

 razure of oblivion." 



As in past seasons, few "finds" of special interest were 

 dug up. From the quantity of heavy iron nails, bolts, 

 clamps, &c, brought to light, it is clear that the doors were 

 massy, and strongly bound. 



A handsome Greek-pattern vase, or cruse, blue-enamelled, 

 is the chief piece of ancient pottery yet yielded by the 

 excavations.* 



Copying the Frescoes. 



The whole set of the unique frescoes of Sigiriya has at 

 length been faithfully reproduced on canvas, and in a 

 manner worthy of the original paintings. 



The Government and the public owe this happy result to 

 the singular talent, unflagging patience, and real courage of 

 one man — Mr. D. A. L. Perera, ex-student of St. Benedict's 

 Institute, and now Head Draughtsman of the Archaeological 

 Survey. Altogether, from first to last, in 1896 and this 

 year, Mr. Perera spent nineteen weary weeks — practically 

 five months — in the cheerless " pocket " caves of Sigiri-gala 

 working on day after day from morning to evening — exposed 

 latterly to the driving force of the south-west wind, and 

 sorely tried at times by inflammation of the eyes and attacks 

 of fever — before the final touch could be put to the last of 

 the twenty -two paintings. 



To glance back for a moment at the gradual steps leading 

 up to this full fruition of hopes, which in 1895 seemed 

 faint indeed. 



The frescoes, in their inaccessible isolation high above 

 the "gallery" that clings to the Rock, well sheltered by the 

 beetling crag, have naturally attracted the notice of every 

 visitor to Sigiriya. Tennent, Rhys Davids, Blakesley, each 

 in turn specially alludes to them. 



* Exhibited at the Meeting. — Hon. Sec, 



