314 journal, r.a.s. (ceylon). [Vol. IL, Part IL- 



the same peculiarity of expression, but with an originality 

 of thought in each which is surprising, and certainly un- 

 common. Many a sentiment of the writer in praise of 

 Parakrama Bahu, whose character and virtues the poet 

 has delineated in this work, is indicative of the kind feelings 

 which he entertained towards his patron and sovereign, 

 and the knowledge he possessed generally of his country's 

 history. This poem may indeed be ranked amongst, and 

 is by no means inferior to, the rest of the supposed writer's 

 works, but for the admixture of foreign words, which, it 

 appears to me, the writer intentionally introduced with a 

 view to adorn his Sinhalese with the glittering ornaments 

 to th'e celebrated " language of the gods"— the Sanskrit. 

 The following will serve as a specimen :— 



Prosper thou Lord Parakrama Bahu ! who hast a gentle arm 

 like Krishna's — an arm which is the abode of the lovely Laksmi — 

 who art beautiful as the consort of the goddess Ramba, and 

 powerful as an enraged elephant in the battlefield-like 

 plantain estate. 



Kovul Sande.se (®^3§^Q9S?@«*@>e£). 

 " An epistle per an Indian cuckoo." 



This is a poem which sustains a like character as the last, 

 and written by Totagamuwa's contemporary, Irugalkule- 

 Pariwenadhipati, the presiding priest of Mulgiri-gala. The 

 writer in this poem seeks a blessing from Krishna, the 

 deity presiding over the temple at Devundara (Dondra 

 Head), upon Prince Sengapperumal, or Sapumal, the son of 

 Parakrama Bahu VI. ; and also prays that the war in which 

 the prince was then engaged at Jaffna (probably in support 



