148 



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



[Vol. XIX. 



These beams again could be cross-braced and made to carry 

 an enormous load, or roof of stone, that undisturbed would, 

 by weight alone, serve to make a rigid enough covered way, 

 and but by inserting either a wedge or a lever behind any of 

 the transverse beams, the whole could be canted forward to 

 a dangerous angle, the least addition to which would overset 

 the whole and crash down upon the road far below, sweeping 

 it away or blocking it in its fall. A trap, in fact. 



This would hinder all possible means of ready ascent from 

 below, because at this point the road crosses a ravine, and is 

 built up on rock ledges by a sort of connecting wall. Assuming 

 this theory of construction of a block-house or barrier is correct, 

 I submit that a further evidence in support of the idea that 

 Nuwara-gala was a fortification is strengthened, though certain 

 groovings in the rock require elucidation. 



I mentioned that on my way to this fine point of rock I first 

 came to a place called Pollebedda. I was informed that 

 not far from it was a great stone work, and the remains of a 

 vast tank. Accordingly on my return I proceeded to examine 

 both. 



The stone work appears to have been an incompleted channel 

 or aqueduct constructed on a most magnificent scale. The 

 work has been constructed out of enormous slabs of split or 

 wedged stone, placed like a letter yj laying along its back 

 (see fig. 3). 



The stones so laid are jointed together at their ends, besides 

 being let into or morticed to the bedwork. Placed as they 

 are, two parallel channels run dead true for 366 feet, and 

 hardly a stone is out of place, notwithstanding the fact that 

 the whole is within a mass of high forest. An idea of the 

 magnitude of the work can be gained by considering the size 

 of the individual pieces of stone that form the whole. For 

 example, slabs 20 ft. by 6 ft. by 2 ft. 6 in. are abundant, while 

 some are even longer, but taking these figures as typical, such 

 a stone would contain 300 cubic feet, and would weigh prob- 

 ably between 23 to 25 tons ! 



