268 journal, e.a.s. (ceylon). [Vol. II., Paet II. 



accuracy of the sentence before me — qeo©, *Ssd$®S$i8®B&£$ 

 @\<^S^ — " The doctrines were preached by Buddha." But not, 

 as the Sinhalese of the first verse in Genesis above given, <2Dd<£© 



The words <§^S««sJ §S*£f ©{©©oca, " created by God," are 

 ungrammatical, and therefore incorrect. If the translators were 

 conversant with the Sinhalese language, they would not only have 

 shortened the sentence by the omission of the preposition §8^, 

 but would also have rendered the English sentence literally, and 

 word for word into idiomatic and grammatical Sinhalese. The 

 word requires a passive termination in the verb ©i©iS, as 



in the example already quoted from the " Sidat Sangarawa" — 

 &d$®&i8& » * * 



That is to say, the expression " God created the heaven and 

 the earth " is at present translated " By God the heaven and the 

 earth created," instead of " By God the heaven and the earth 



were created." 



#''#■# * 



To return, however, to the subject from which we have 

 digressed. The Sinhalese books abound in pastorals and 

 descriptive poetry, which are divided into many (nearly thirty- 

 five) heads, all which comprise the several species of poetry 

 known to the English. Besides the legitimate Sinhalese 

 poetry there is a species called the &<&®G3QdZ3 (Elu sloka), 

 of comparatively modern introduction. 



The last-named follows the rules of Sanskrit Prosody, 

 and is written in a variety of measures with which that 

 beautiful language abounds : it will suffice to give two 

 examples : — 



No. I.— On Night. 

 sscjistysflii es^&astf £d) ®&)3<a ©(33 dL^<sneS &sf®d>&&$ 



