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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XIX. 



exterior walls stripped of the vegetation which (as at " TMpa- 

 rama," " Jetawanarama," &c.) had taken free root. This ancient 

 vihare is situated nearly three miles north of the promontory 

 with its ruins, and a mile or more beyond the " Gal Vihare." 



The real " Demala Maha Seya " — " the great Thupa one 

 thousand three hundred cubits round about," constructed by 

 Parakrama Bahu the Great — lies between the two, a huge 

 forest-covered hillock with no marked indications of its identity 

 save magnitude and position. " It was," says the Mahawansa 

 (LXXVIIL, 81), " the greatest of all the thiipas, like unto another 

 Kailasa ; and it was called the Damila Thupa (or Seya), because 

 that the Damilas (Tamils) who were brought here from the Pandu 

 country, after it had been conquered, were also employed in the 

 building thereof." 



The true name of the ruined brick-built vihare, wrongly styled 

 " Demala Maha Seya," is at present uncertain. No inscription 

 has been discovered there yet ; but the ruin was only partially 

 excavated in 1886.* 



This ruin resembles " Thuparama " (so-called) in general 

 lines, with some important modification ; but is much better 

 preserved. Its surface ornamentation, too, is both fuller in detail 

 and more complex. The roof of vestibule and shrine alike has 

 wholly collapsed, partly filling the interior, partly fallen outwards. 



The vestibule seems to have been excavated in 1885-1886. 

 About the same date one or two of the paintings (Jataka stories, 

 &c.) on the walls were copied in water colours by Mr. A. Murray 

 of the Public Works Department. 



The shrine itself is still choked with tons of brick and mortar 

 debris from the roof, and will present no mean task to the ex- 

 cavator. 



A large slice of the exterior wall of the shrine at its north-east 

 angle had fallen since 1904. Other parts are about to follow. 



The sooner, therefore, this fine ruin is excavated and full 

 drawings made the better. A start will, it is hoped, be made 

 next season. 



In the jungle about 100 yards south of this ruin, and yet hidden 

 in jungle, is a raised site and portion of a brick wall, almost 

 certainly pointing to a " Wata-da-ge " (" Circular Relic house "). 

 The path to the " Demala Maha Seya " passes over what is 

 probably its outer maluwa or platform. This site was cleared in 

 connection with the vihare. 



Excavations. 



The only fresh excavation attempted in 1905 was at the ruin, 

 popularly styled " Raja Maligawa," within the Citadel at Polon- 

 naruwa. This beautiful oblong building, 75 ft. 6 in. by 33 ft. 6 in., 



* Sessional Papers, 1886, X.,"A year's work at Polonnaruwa" (S. M, 

 Burrows). 



