NO. 52.— 1901.] ANNUAL REPORT. 



7 



Further, the first length of an iron bridge, rock-held, to connect the 

 west face gallery with what remains on the north, was fixed in position. 



Another season should see all the exceedingly difficult and break- 

 neck work on this part of the gallery well nigh completed. 



Polonnaruwa. — The Archaeological Survey started work at Polon- 

 naruwa in May, 1900, and closed its first season there at the end of 

 September. Proceeding from the outset systematically, as at Anu- 

 radhapura, excavations were concentrated during the four and half 

 months at one point — the ruins situated on the extensive promontory 

 overlooking the tank (Topavewa). These ruins comprise — 



(a) The " Council Chamber," a building with massive stone pillars 

 standing upon a lofty platform, stone-faced. 



(&) The " Audience Hall," or " Court of J ustice," a large building of 

 brick and mortar, stucco-plastered, and one-storied at its western end. 



(c) A "Mausoleum" (?), storied, brick-built, and ornamented with 

 stucco-mouldings picked out in colours. 



(d) A u Pavilion," partially walled, and floored in plaster, with short 

 stone piers, from which an upper wooden storey may have risen. 

 This building stood on an artificially constructed mound within the 

 tank, but was formerly joined to the promontory bund and the 

 buildings clustered west of (a), (6), (c) by a bridge. 



(e) The walls of buildings connected with some irrigation work 

 lying immediately below the tank, and once fed from it by a sluice now 

 blocked. 



(/) A pillared building, and brick-strewn mound, close to the Irriga- 

 tion Bungalow on the tank bund. 



The form and object of the ruins at these last-named sites (e,f) have 

 yet to be ascertained by excavation. 



The ancient city lies still for the most part buried in jungle, which 

 is now being steadily cleared. Its main streets are well defined to 

 this day, no less than its structures, and both can be laid down on a 

 plan with absolute certainty; for the modern builder has not yet 

 played havoc with the ruins of " Pulastipura." 



Epigraphical. — The first volume of the Epigraphia Zeylanica is in 

 the hands of Mr. Don M. de Z. Wickremasinha being prepared for the 

 press. 



Finances. 



The Treasurership last year was undertaken by Mr. H. O. Barnard. 

 The balance sheet annexed shows a satisfactory balance of 

 Es. 1,856*96, which, however, has since been somewhat reduced by the 

 payment of outstanding accounts. Mr. E. Booth has been good 

 enough to perform the duty of auditing the accounts. 



Conclusion. 



The Council regret to report some falling off in the number of 

 suitable Papers contributed by the Members of the Society. There is 

 much ground still unbroken in the History and Archaeology of this 

 Island (especially in the identification of ancient sites) and in the 

 working out of the philological affini ties of the Sinhalese language. The 

 Council hope that more Members of the Society will contribute in the 

 form of Papers the results of such researches as they are able to make 

 into these, or other subjects, which come within the scope of the 

 Society's objects. 



