NO. 42. — 1891,] ANCIENT INDUSTRIES. 



51 



The same monarch (Devanampiya Tissa), " making offerings 

 to the theras," himself served them with "rice broth, cakes, 

 and dressed rice." 



Having placed his chariot at their disposal and " spread 

 sumptuous carpets " for these theras, and " bowed to them 

 with profound reverence " (p. 53), the repast he himself 

 served must have been of the best and choicest, and it con- 

 sisted entirely of " rice" 307-267 B.C. 



Referring to the same period, "the keeper of the royal garden 

 produced to the king a superb full ripe mango of superlative 

 excellence in colour, fragrance, and flavour. The king pre, 

 sented this delicious fruit to the thera and " had a splendid 

 carpet spread out " for him, as it was necessary according to 

 the rules of his order that he should be seated while eating. 



In order that no mention of food may be omitted here two 

 very trivial incidents must be stated, one of an old woman 

 who put out "paddy to dry " (p. 82), the other, of a certain 

 royal lady for whom Duttha Gamani procured honeycomb 

 to satisfy her earnest longing (p. 86). 161-137 B.C. 



The King (Duttha Gamani) having realised certain desires, 

 is said to have " exceedingly rejoiced, presenting the priest- 

 hood with rice dressed in milk." 



On the occasion of the weaning ceremony of the two princes 

 " this affectionate parent again bestowed the alms of milk- 

 rice on 500 priests. The monarch, assisted by the queen, 

 having collected into a golden dish a little from each of the 

 priests' dishes, he put a handful thereof in the mouth of each, 

 and said : ' My children, if ye ever become subverters of the 

 true faith may this food never be digested.' " 



Ten years later the king " having entertained the priest- 

 hood as before," administered an oath to the young princes, 

 never to make war with the Damilas, whereupon Tissa flung 

 the portion from him. Gamani also spurned away his handful 

 of " rice " (p. 87). The offering to the priests was therefore 

 also of " rice " as on the weaning ceremony. 



In the narrative of Duttha Gamani's early career (161-137 

 B.C., p. 94) it is related that the king said to his minister 



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