22 



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



Birth Stories of Buddha," such as that which she entitles " The 

 earliest Rock Climber." 



In this connection I must mention the " Proposed Oriental 

 School in London," recently referred to in the London Times, and 

 which has long been desiderated by the present Royal Asiatic 

 and other Asian Societies in order to provide a means of instruction 

 in Oriental languages in the British Metropolis, comparable to the 

 " Orientalische Seminar " of Berlin, which has a grant of £8,000 

 from the German Government, besides the necessary buildings, a 

 fine library, and an admirably conducted journal. Paris and 

 St. Petersburg are also similarly and handsomely provided, and 

 it seems a shame that the Empire which has most to do with the 

 East should be so far behind. A Committee is likely to report 

 to the Home Government on the subject. 



Further evidence of the publishing enterprise of the Ceylon 

 Government is found in Dr. Herdman's monumental work on our 

 Pearl Oyster Fisheries, with supplementary reports upon the 

 Marine Biology of Ceylon by other Naturalists. Of this very 

 important series, three parts finely printed and profusely illustrated 

 have appeared, and a fourth part will complete the undertaking 

 — one that cannot fail to reflect credit on the Colony and its 

 Government which requested the Royal Society to undertake the 

 publication, as well as on the chief author and editor and his 

 colleagues. 



The lists published and prepared for the Government Gazette of 

 all works published in the Colony during 1904 and 1905 testify to 

 the great activity of the Press in this Colony both in English and 

 vernacular printing. No doubt many issues are of an ephemeral 

 and inferior character ; but undoubtedly much to enlighten and 

 improve the people passes through the Press in Ceylon. 



Archceology . 



The Society has always been deeply interested in archaeological 

 exploration, which, indeed, was commenced under its auspices 

 during the time of Governor Sir Arthur Gordon, now Lord 

 Stanmore. It was also very much on the representation of the I 

 Society that the systematic Archaeological Survey under the very 1 

 competent direction of Mr. H. C. P. Bell as Archaeological Com- ' 

 missioner, was first started in 1890 by the same Governor ; and 

 Mr. Bell's continuance as Honorary Secretary of this Society, 

 and above all his most interesting summaries of the work done, 

 contributed year by year to our Annual Reports, has kept up 

 the close connection originally established. 



You will have been pleased to learn from the report this time 

 that the protection of the Sigiriya paintings is now complete; 

 that, although much valuable work has been accomplished, there 

 remains yet a great deal of exploration and excavation to execute 

 at Polonnaruwa. 



Mr. Bell and his active young Assistant Mr. Still (who is an 

 excellent amateur photographer) are bringing out this year an 

 " Illustrated List of Archaeological Finds," which is certain to be 



