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



[Vol. XX. 



moderate extent 1 , and in the midst thereof is a slab 2 (which 

 will be about the size of two gravestones) elevated on large 

 stones ; in the middle is the form of a footprint, much larger 

 than ordinary ones, of such a fashion, that it appears as if it 

 had been impressed in the same stone, in the very same manner 

 that a signet is impressed in a little soft wax, or the footprint of 

 a man in a little soft clay 3 . The pilgrims who resort hither 

 (who are innumerable), not only heathens but also Moors, 

 from Persia to China, on reaching that little river, purify 

 themselves, as we have already said, with their ceremonies, and 

 clothe themselves with new cloths. After it seems to them 

 that they are purified, they climb the mountain, which is 

 very steep ; and a little distance before they arrive at the 

 summit there are certain beams 4 laid across, from which hangs 

 a great bell of the fashion of those of China 5 , of the finest 

 metal, and from it hangs a large mallet covered with leather 6 , 

 upon which [bell] each pilgrim is obliged to strike a blow in 

 order that they may know if they are pure ; because they hold 

 amongst themselves that for him who is impure the bell will not 

 sound ; and such a one is obliged to return and purify himself 

 with other greater ceremonies. Thus are they deceived by the 

 devils, who, in such a manner put into their heads that all are 

 pure ; because there was never a man for whom the bell failed to 



1 Valentyn has rendered this correctly ; but Philalethes translates 

 ■< a small plain," and Skeen simply " a plain," to which he appends an 

 unnecessary footnote. 



2 Sa e Menezes has loza, which Lieutenant-Colonel St. George has 

 erroneously translated " building." 



3 What with mistranslations and interpolations, Valentyn has made 

 sad nonsense of the above. He says:—" .... and in the middle of this 

 a water tank, named Wellamallacandoere, being of the size of two graves, 

 raised up with great stones, and in the middle is the form of a great 

 footprint, which they name Siripade, of a foot much larger than an ordi- 

 nary one, and of such fashions that it appears to be impressed in the 

 stone, just as a signet is impressed in white wax." Here Valentyn has 

 misread lagea (slab) as lagoa (lake), and branda (hot) as branca (white) ; 

 and his first interpolation has evoked from Skeen two further footnotes . 



4 Valentyn erroneously translates traves by trappen (steps), and after 

 this word interpolates " or really two upright stone columns, upon 

 which is laid another stone from the one to the other." 



5 That is, a basin-shaped gong. 



6 Valentyn has" and from this hangs a large clapper bored through, 

 through the whole of which goes a cord of leather, at which each must 

 pull, and give a blow upon the bell," &c. This interpolation owes its 

 origin to Valentyn's having misread forrado (covered, or overlaid) as 

 fur ado (bored). 



