NO. 61. — 1908.] ANNUAL REPORT. 



47 



Teehno-Chemical Laboratory, Bombay ; the University Library, 

 Cambridge ; the Director-General of Archaeology, India ; 

 l'Ecole Francaise d' Extreme Orient, Hanoi ; the Keeper of 

 Printed Books, British Museum, London. 



Accommodation. 



The Council note with pleasure that the extension of the eastern 

 wing of the Museum has been taken in hand. With its completion 

 it is hoped that much-needed room will be available for the expan- 

 sion and proper arrangement of the Library. 



Vedda Research. 



On the representation of the Council of this Society, and by 

 the exertions of the Hon. Mr. J. Ferguson, C.M.G., President, 

 and Dr. A. Willey, F.R.S., Vice-President of the Society, the 

 services of Dr. C. G. Seligmann were secured through Professor 

 Haddon, F.R.S., on behalf of the Ceylon Government, to investi- 

 gate the Sociology, &c, of the Veddas. The Government voted 

 a sum of Rs. 4,500 in the Colombo Museum estimates for this 

 important investigation. 



Dr. Seligmann arrived on December 16 and is now at work in 

 the Vedda country. He has promised on the completion of field 

 labours to deliver an illustrated lecture at a General Meeting 

 of the Society. 



Archaeology. 



The following skeleton sketch of its operations during 1907, 

 kindly, furnished by the Archaeological Commissioner (supple- 

 mented by coloured drawings, photographs, and "finds" for 

 exhibition at this Meeting) , affords ample evidence of the steady 

 progress of the Archaeological Survey : — 



I. — Anurddhapura. 



(1) Clearing. 



TheRs. 3,000 moiety of the clearing vote was, as usual, devoted 

 to the annual weeding of the main areas marked by ruins and the 

 rooting out of saplings and undergrowth, as far as funds permitted. 



From 1908 a further sum of Rs. 2,000 has been sanctioned by 

 the Government to enable the Archaeological Commissioner to 

 cope fully with the many and extensive areas in and around 

 Anuradhapura every year, instead of being only able to work off 

 a certain portion annually. 



(2) Excavation. 



Vessagiriya. — In 1906 the most northerly, and smallest, of the 

 three groups of slab rock and boulders forming the ancient Vessa- 

 giriya sa?ighdrdma was freed of the earth and trees hiding the 

 ruined remains of the chief pirivena, or monks' residence, at this 

 monastery. 



