xxiv. 



Appendix :— Proceedings of 



It is probable that some of the visitors to Newera Ellia, may have it 

 in their power to follow up my enquiry, not only there, but on the 

 Himalayah. 



By making this as public as you can, you will much oblige, 



Yours faithfully, 



S. J. Chapman. 



Athenceum Club, London, 17 th March, 1852. 



Sir,— Last month I endeavoured to avail myself of the kindness of 

 the Colonial Department, to send, addressed to you, a copy of an article 

 in the last number of the Royal Asiatic Society's Journal, entitled " Some 

 additional remarks upon the city of Anuradhapoora, and the Hill Tem- 

 ple of Mehentela in the Island of Ceylon," which the Society did me 

 the honour to insert. As I have reason to believe that the parcel will 

 not have been sent, but will be forwarded by this Mail, I venture to 

 address you further. 



It will be seen that the paper is wholly historical, and that it rests as 

 authority upon Tumour's Mahawanso, even for the date assigned to 

 Chandra Gupta, viz., 381 years before the Christian era. This date is 

 disputed, as being at variance with that of the Greek Sandracottus ; but 

 as this fact was not only known but fully discussed in the Introduction 

 and Appendix to the Mahawanso by Mr. Tumour, I did not feel justified 

 in departing from his authority. Therefore, I contented myself with 

 saying, that this important but disputed date is fixed ; but when I take 

 the elaborate examination of this difficult point by Professor Wilson, 

 into consideration, I feel that it would have been much more satisfactory, 

 if the words, " but disputed" were inserted. You will, therefore, very 

 much oblige me if you will have the kindness to make this correction at my 

 request. 



The communication from Major Cunningham of the contents of the 

 Topes around " Surihi," page 108, naturally turns our attention to every 

 thing connected with Budhism. I shall, therefore, mention some points 

 which appear to me of interest. In page 221 of Davy, is an account of 

 the contents of a Dagoba at Cotta, which was opened by Mr. Layard in 



1819 or 1820. In one corner of the floor is which is not de- 

 scribed, but which I have mentioned as like a king of Chessmen, On 



