132 



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



[Vol. XIX. 



(a) " 4 Thupdrdma." — By the close of the season in 1904 the 

 partially fallen back wall of " Thuparama Vihare " was rebuilt 

 in brick and cement, with concrete filling (lime, cement, and 

 pebble), to a height of some 12 ft. from the floor. All vegetation 

 was also rooted out from the walls ; and the serious cracks tem- 

 porarily protected from percolation of rain water by bricking 

 them at top. 



These precautions have prevented further damage ensuing 

 to this fine brick ruin. 



A fresh start was made this year (1906) in rilling in the danger- 

 ous vertical cracks through the back wall, and continuing its 

 inner face upwards until it should re-connect with the vaulted 

 roof, open and unsupported, at the west end of the building. 

 Here the soffit of the arched roof had lost a great number of 

 voussoir bricks, and was holding only by the strength of the thick, 

 tough, mortar used with the irregularly fixed bricks. 



In widening the cracks sufficiently to permit of their being 

 re-united from end to end, the interior of the walls revealed loose, 

 disintegrated, lime concrete which crumbled to the touch. All 

 this ancient " shoddy " core had, therefore, to be removed, 

 augmenting the cracks into wide fissures in places (at one point 

 6 ft. by 5 ft. by 4 ft.), and very greatly adding to the labour of 

 re-uniting the walls. 



Before work closed for the year the three great cracks had been 

 joined up, and the west wall rebuilt from the bottom to match 

 the others, i.e., first vertical, then gradually projecting as each 

 course of bricks slightly overlaps the one below , and finally once 

 more vertical at the level of the spring of the real arch of the 

 roof. * 



The broken end of the arch has been most carefully united to 

 the back wall, as upon correct and strong junction here will 

 wholly depend the permanent stability of the Vihare roof and its 

 massy superimposed square tower, the north-west corner of 

 which is also cracked. 



It is proposed next season to deal with the remaining cracks 

 elsewhere, and specially with the great crack which runs along 

 the soffit axis of the arched roof. 



But the roof and west wall of the " Thuparama " ruin are now 

 practically safe for the time being with the work already done. 



The narrow, veiled, staircase, 2 ft. in width, which pierced the 

 south wall of the vestibule rising east had become so worn and 

 dangerous that its immediate renewal was desirable. The steps 

 were accordingly relaid in cement. 



At the head of this staircase, was a very cramped landing at 

 right angles, and further steps (all now broken away) which 

 mounted west on to the flat roof of the Vihare. The almost total 

 collapse of the vestibule's arch has left this part of the ascent 

 exceedingly risky, and some safeguard must be provided. 



* In all some 7,700 cubes of masonry have been so far rebuilt. 



