48 



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



During the early months of 1907 excavations were pushed 

 gradually southwards at Vessagiriya, along the east side of the 

 first and second rock clusters. Some dozen or more buildings 

 have been unearthed, notably a small dagaba of the tenth century, 

 two other circular ruins, and a fine pilima-ge (image-house). To 

 the west of the second rock stretch so far only one ruin has been 

 opened up. This was once a fine four-square pilima-ge (recalling 

 the one excavated to the south of the Abhayagiriya Dagaba), with 

 staircases on all sides, and a central shrine of moulded outline and 

 elephant-head dado in limestone. 



Everywhere at Vessagiriya the ruins have been greatly damaged 

 and ruthlessly despoiled of tl^eir stone work, of which but little 

 has survived. 



From July no fresh excavation was attempted in Anuradhapura, 

 the Archaeological Commissioner being again single-handed (owing 

 to his European Assistant's absence in England on six months' 

 leave*), and having to supervise at Polonnaruwa the work yearly 

 undertaken at that ancient capital. 



II. — Polonnaruwa. 



At Polonnaruwa very real progress was made between June and 

 September, the dry months. 



Survey of Polonnaruwa^ 



The Survey Department has just completed, on the scale of two 

 chains to the inch, a detailed survey of the ruins of Polonnaruwa 

 from " Potgul Vehera" Monastery on the south as far north as 

 the so-called " Demala Mahd Seya." 



Clearing. 



A gang of Sinhalese villagers re-cleared the entire area of the 

 ancient city, as far as hitherto opened out, of the scrub that yearly 

 springs up with exasperating persistency, and hampers accessi- 

 bility to the many scattered ruins of Polonnaruwa. 



In addition a body of Moor axe men commenced to thin out sys- 

 tematically the dense forest, which prevented a comprehensive view 

 being got from any distance of the northern groups of ancient 

 structures — the two large dagabas (Rankot Vehera and Kiri 

 Vehera), Jetawandrdma Vihdre, and the Gal Vihdre rock shrines. 



In the course of the past season the opening up of a clear vista 

 has been carried from Rankot Vehera as far northwards as Jeta- 

 wandrdma, and forest trees, which unduly shut in the Gal Vihdre, 

 judiciously reduced. 



The felling of the forest to the point completed in 1907 has 

 been so beneficial in every way that it will be steadily proceeded 

 with each season until Polonnaruwa can boast, no less than 

 Anuradhapura, of its beautiful " ruin-studded park." 



* Mr. J. Still has since resigned. 



