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



Circuit Work. 



Avery successful tour, on foot, of nine weeks' duration, was accom- 

 plished during August, September, and October, in the course of 

 which practically the whole of Tammankaduwa was explored to its 

 uttermost confines. The unseasonable rains that fell in August and 

 September greatly incommoded exploration and hampered the march 

 in a district where numerous streams rapidly become unfordable from 

 sudden freshets. 



Starting on August 16 from Alut-oya the expedition proceeded 

 south-east through Dimbulankadawala, Minneriya, Topavewa (Polon- 

 naruwa), Dastota — where the Mahaweli-ganga was crossed — Yakkure, 

 and Huruvila, to Kuda-ulpota at the foot of Dimbulu-gala. Nearly a 

 week was spent in the examination of the ancient caves, &c, occurring 

 on the slopes of this majestic hill, " Gunner's Quoin," a well known 

 landmark to vessels coasting round the east of the Island. To the 

 east of Dimbulu-gala lies the Vedirata of Tammankaduwa — a wild 

 waste, uninhabited, save by a few miserable " clans "of " Village 

 Veddas." The furthest of these Vedda hamlets, Kohombalewa, is 

 placed on the right bank of the Madara-oya, 20 miles beyond the 

 Mahaweli-ganga, and about 100 miles from Anuradhapura at the 

 extreme south-east corner of the North-Central Province. Turning 

 north, homewards, from this limit, on September 17, down the Madara- 

 oya, through Belanwala and G-inidamana (Veddas) to Muttugala, and 

 re-crossing the river at Kandakadu, the rest of the journey lay north- 

 east via Sungavali, Paliyagodella, into the Kalegam pattu (Wadigeva 

 and Nikavewa), until the Trincomalee road was reached again on 

 October 6 at Kanthalai. 



Many places of considerable archaeological interest have been 

 mapped and examined as the outcome of this long circuit, and an 

 addition beyond expectation made to the existing list of the lithic 

 inscriptions of Ceylon. 



Miscellaneous. 



In 1895 the Asiatic Society handed over to the Archaeological 

 Commissioner the balance of an old " Anuradhapura Excavation 

 Fund," to be expended in the partial restoration of the ruined 

 " Buddhist Railing " at Anuradhapura. This work has at length 

 been completed by the Public Works officers, to whom it was entrusted ; 

 and the " Railing," as restored, is among the most strikingly beautiful 

 specimens of ancient architecture to be seen anywhere throughout 

 the Island. 



Council. 



Two Members of the Council of 1896, viz., Messrs. P. Ramanathan 

 and H. F. Tomalin, A.R.I.B.A., being by virtue of Rule 16 deemed 

 to have retired by least attendance, the vacancies were filled by the 

 appointment of Messrs. J. P. Lewis, C.C.S., and F. H. de Vos, Advo- 

 cate. Messrs. Freiidenberg and F. M. Mackwood, who under the same 

 Rule, vacated their places by reason of seniority, were re-elected. 

 Mr. A. Haly, Director of the Colombo Museum, was appointed to fill 

 the vacancy in the Council caused by Dr. Trimen's death. 



Mr. J. Harward (one of the Honorary Secretaries of the Society) 

 was obliged to leave the Island in October last owing to ill-health, 

 and tendered his resignation. The Council, however, decided not to 



