No. 57.— 1906.] 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



7 



A nurddhapura. 



Accordingly, the work of thoroughly cleaning the stairs, base- 

 ments, and floors of the very numerous ruins of Anuradhapura, 

 formerly excavated, was systematically undertaken. 



By the end of the year 200 sites and upwards at Abhayagiriya , 

 Sela Chaitiya, Ruwanveli, Thuparama, Toluvila, and Puliyan- 

 kulama had thus been all virtually re-dug. 



Polonnaruwa. 



Similarly, at Topawewa the ruins were well cleaned on the 

 promontory overlooking the tank — in the area on the Minneriya 

 road marked by the cluster of Hindu Devales — and upon the 

 raised quadrangle near the Citadel containing some of the most 

 important edifices of Polonnaruwa (''Thuparama,'' " Wata-da-geY' 

 " Satmahal Prasada," &c). 



Towards the close of the season the question of battling with 

 the. formidable growth of trees and vegetation on the two great 

 dagabas (Kiri Vehera ; Rankot Vehera) and the larger ruins 

 ( Jetawamkaiiia, &c.) was seriously faced. 



Vegetation had laid a terrible grip on the magnificent ruins, 

 and for years been surely working their certain, if slow, destruction. 

 Drastic action was necessary ; for serpentine roots of innumerable 

 trees had penetrated deep into the masonry and caused yawning 

 cracks, already lessening greatly their stability. From their 

 height and conformation these structures cannot safely be scaled 

 and cleaned during the prevalence of the strong south-west wind. 



The work of eradication proved heavy, and attended with no 

 little risk. Some of the roots are as thick as a man's thigh, and 

 the towering walls of the brick vihares too fragile at top to permit 

 of strong blows with full-sized axes. Small " Vedda axes " had 

 to be used, and served well ; but could only cope effectively with 

 the countless massy roots by gentle and prolonged chopping. 



As the result, both the dagabas, the so-called " Jetawanarama," 

 " Thuparama," and " Heta-da-ge " Vihares, and the " Satmahal 

 Prasada " (Seven-storied Shrine) were thus attacked and steadily 

 conquered during the autumn. 



By yearly attention it will now not be difficult to keep these 

 ruins free of similar uncontrolled growth in future. 



" Demala-Maha-Seya." 



Further afield the undergrowth surrounding the strangely 

 misnamed " Demala Maha Seya "° ruin was cleared, and its top and 



* This is but one of the several misnomers recklessly affixed to 

 Polonnaruwa ruins, e.tj., " Dalada Maligawa," " Thuparama," " Vish- 

 nu Devale," " Nayipena Vihare," &c. 



