48 



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



written by residents in the interior of the I sland, while the 

 coconut palm grew along the sea coast. One shrewd 

 surmise why the Mahdwansa has so little to say about the 



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The translation was made for me some years back, at the instance of 

 Mr. H. C. P. Bell, C.C.S., by the late learned Chief Translator to Govern- 

 ment, Mudaliyar B. Gunasekera, and rims as follows 



Translation. 



1. In by-gone days a king-coconut could not be had when King 

 Vijaya wanted one to put his noble feet upon (on the occasion of a 

 ceremony intended) to avert a severe calamity. 



2. On inquiry he was told that a king-coconut of golden colour 

 might be had in a country on the other side of the Seveil Oceans. He 

 procured it in the following manner. 



3. In order to remove the calamity it assumed the form of Ganesa 

 (a Hindu god) typified by Nalikera (a term for coconut in general). 

 I am going to give an account of the origin of the golden tembili (king- 

 coconut). 



4. When a question arose as to who would go to fetch the tembili, 

 the great Tera (Buddhist priest) Anada immediately brought and 

 gave it. 



5. At the end of seven days from the coronation of the wise Ganesa, 

 born in the womb of Queen Irugal (who lived) in a country beyond the 

 Seven Seas, the germ was seen. 



6. Ganesa was defeated in a battle and his head fell in an extensive 

 forest. Sakra, with his divine eyes, observed it in an instant and 

 enclosed it with a strong fence. 



7. It (the head metamorphosed into a coconut plant !) grows daily 

 and attains height, with flowers of a cubit in length. Its young shoots 

 become green and rustle before the wind. 



8. At the end of full three months the flowers burst open with 

 pedicles loaded (with tender fruit) at the tips. The bees alighting with 

 joy make a noise on them. The tree bore five kinds of coconut. 



9. The -first was " ran- tembili " (king-coconut of golden tint), the 

 second was " gon- tembili," the third " navisi," fourth " bodiri " (the 

 fifth, not specified). After six months the fruits ripen. 



10. The goddess of the Earth lives at the foot of the tree ; Mahakela, 

 the snake-king, at the middle of the trunk ; the elephant-king and the 

 god-king (Sakra) at the top ; while Vishnu and Sak-king live within 

 the nut. 



11. Ganesa, the three-eyed god, wearing a crown on his head, has 

 given this coconut. By the efficacy of the incantations now used in 



