No. 57.— 1906.] 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



9 



with its bold makara wings and lion-guarded staircase, is, among 

 Buddhistic * stone ruins of Polonnaruwa, second only in elegance 

 and profusion of sculpture to the unique " Wata-da-ge." 



Fortunately all the carved slabs of the high (11 ft. 6 in.) tripli- 

 cated stylobate, and nearly every one of the twenty chaste inner 

 columns, still remain unbroken. But there were ominous signs 

 of imminent slip of several stones now tottering to their fall, 

 forced outwards by the gradual sinking and " thrust " of the 

 upper members of the basement. 



In view of the high architectural importance of the ruin and 

 great risk of wholesale collapse in places, it was decided to clear 

 away debris upon and around the ruin so as to open out this 

 handsome stone structure to full view from all sides, to remove 

 at once all vegetation threatening to further push out the stone- 

 faced revetment, and to at least provisionally reset fallen slabs 

 and straighten leaning pillars, f 



All this desirable work was completed before the season closed, 

 Every slab of the stylobate has been found and replaced 

 on fairly true lines ; and the effect is exceedingly pleasing. The 

 first gangway is faced with elephants, the second with a dado of 

 lions (both in profile), the third with one of posturing ganas or 

 dwarfs. Every figure is shown singly between pilasters. The 

 edge of the coping surface of the two lower gangways is adorned 

 with a neat band of leafy creeper pattern, that of the uppermost 

 with Kansas and a foliated fillet. 



Although the so-called " Raja Maligawa " and the large brick 

 ruin west of it with tall massive walls (the fictitious " Hira-ge," or 

 Prison) are the sole structures above ground within the Citadel 

 confines (about one-fourth of a mile square), excavation pointed 

 to the whole of the area being probably once covered by minor 

 buildings, cross walls, bye-streets, &c, lying buried some 3 or 

 4 feet below the surface. 



It is more than ever certain therefore that the full excavation 

 of Polonnaruwa must occupy far longer than the period estimated 

 from ruins above ground. 



Circuit. 



The Assistant to the Archaeological Commissioner, Mr. J. Still, 

 did some useful circuit work early in the year (March and April). 

 The country visited included most of the eastern half of the 

 Vanni (Northern Province) and several villages in the north- 

 eastern corner of the Eastern Province. 



* The equally striking, and hardly less ornate, " Dalada Maligawa " 

 and " Vishnu Devale " — both mistermed, being in reality shrines 

 sacred to Siva — belong to the Dravidian style of Hindu architecture. 



f The regular restoration of this handsome structure may follow 

 that of the " Wata-da-ge." It will involve relaying the stairs and 

 stylobate slabs in concrete and pointing joints in mortar, all the old 

 work being " dry-laid." 



