84 



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



THE INSCRIBED MURAL STONE AT THE MAHA 

 SAM AN DEVALE, RATNAPURA. 



By D. W. Ferguson. 



[In January, 1896, when I was last in Ceylon, Mr. H. C. P. 

 Bell, CCS., Archaeological Commissioner, sent me a copy of 

 a photograph of the inscribed mural stone at the Maha Saman 

 Devale, Ratnapura, taken by Mr. J. W. Robertson of the 

 Survey Department, as well as an impression and an eye copy 

 of the inscription made by Mr. Bell's Head Overseer. These 

 I compared with the stone itself when visiting Ratnapura in 

 September, 1896. Mr. Bell asked me to write a note on the 

 subject for the C. A. S. Journal ; and I should have done so 

 ere this had I not been under the impression that Mr. W. E. 

 Davidson, CCS. , intended to deal with the matter. Since 

 my return to England I have made further research and 

 inquiry ; and though I have not been able to clear up all the 

 mystery surrounding the stone, I hope that the following 

 notes will enable some one else to do so.] 



The late Mr. William Skeen, in chapter V. of his Adam's 

 Peak, gives a pretty detailed description of the famous 

 Hindu-Buddhist temple near Ratnapura, known as the Maha 

 Saman Devale ; and in the course of his description he says 

 (pp. 125, 126) :— 



Let into a niche in the basement of the raised quadrangle, a little to 

 the north of the flight of steps leading from the outer courtyard, is a 

 mural stone of some historic value, and of singular interest from the 

 strange and unexpected position in which it is found. On it, sculptured 

 in bold relief, are two figures about half the size of life. They 

 represent the closing event of a mortal combat between a Portuguese, 

 armed cap-a-pie, and a Sinhalese warrior. Conquered in the encounter, 

 the latter has been stricken down ; his sword and shield are cast 

 despairingly aside ; and his antagonist, trampling under foot his pros- 

 trate form, is now with one final blow about to deprive him of his life. 

 The inscription below, partly in Roman and partly in Sinhalese 

 characters, is so much effaced as to be only very partially readable ;. 



