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



first arrival of the Portuguese are interesting, though evidently 

 legendary. 



The President's questions were answered to a large extent by 

 Mr. Arunachalam ; though I do not think that fear of the Arabs 

 ( ? Moors) was what deterred the Portuguese from visiting Ceylon 

 between 1498 and 1506. The real reasons were : paucity of ships, 

 the hostility of the Calicut Moors, and mainly the fact that suffi- 

 cient cinnamon was obtainable at Cochin and Cananor by means 

 of native vessels. There can be no doubt that sentiment played 

 a large part in moving King Manuel to order his viceroy to 

 " discover " Ceylon. 



30 NOV. 1903 



Wansai Nirabut Nawkabahu [sic (?) Vira Bhuvaneka Bahu — B.], on 

 Friday, the 7th of the increasing moon of the month Poson. It was 



granted, &c Thus the tudapat and copper plates were granted by 



order of the powerful great King Prakramabahu." 



Buddha Varsha 2060, Poson, — a.d. 1516, June-July; Saka Varsha 

 1435, Poson, = a.d. 1513, June-July, a difference of three years. 

 According to the rock record at Kelaniya temple, Dharmma Parakrama 

 Bahu IX. " ascended the throne of Lanka " in B. V. 2051 = a.d. 1507-8. 

 His predecessor was Vira JParakrama Bahu VIII. — B., Hon. Sec. 



H. C. COTTT/E, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, COLOMBO, CEYLON. 



