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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
similarly illuminated boats. There were also lamps made of red and 
white paper shaped like lotus flowers, with wax candles fixed in their 
cups ; myriads of these beyond all counting were floating down the 
river. Fireworks of various devices were also cast into the water ; 
these would travel underneath for some time and then burst into 
tongues of flame in all directions, with an ex])losion as of a jingal ; the 
whole surface of the water appeared paved with fire. There were 
also dancers in gilt clothes in boats, singing and dancing to the music 
of drums. 
Next, the priests residing within the city and in the viharas on either 
bank of the river were presented with offerings, with robes, and the 
priestly necessaries, the boats which carried them forming an unbroken 
procession. 
This solemnity was observed on the thirteenth day of the increasing 
moon of the month Binara, on the full-moon day, on the first, seventh, 
and eighth days of the waning moon, and on the new moon, when the 
Was season came to a close. It was explained to us that this festival has 
been observed from time immemorial by the pious sovereigns of 
Ayodhyapura year after year in honour of the sacred footprint, the 
relics of the Buddha, and of that other footprint which at the prayer 
of the Naga king the Lord had in his lifetime imprinted on the 
sands of the river Nerbudda. On the afternoon of Wednesday two 
officers brought us in boats everything that was required for a similar 
offering, with a message from the king that we too should celebrate 
such an offering with our own hands. We accordingly went with 
them and lit lamps which were floated down the stream, and burnt 
fireworks ; similar ceremonies were performed by us the following 
Thursday and Friday. 
On the seventh day of the solar month Thula, being Wednesday, in 
the morning, two officers came and accompanied iis in boats to near the 
palace of the Uva Rajjuruvo. There, in a two-staged octagonal hall 
hung with cloths of diverse kinds, among gorgeous gold-worked 
carpets stretched on the floor, was the sub-king himself seated on a 
marvellously wrought royal throne. Beautifully engraved swords of 
solid gold, trays and boxes of gold and silver, and various royal 
ornaments were placed on either side : there was a golden curtain 
drawn, and on this side of it the great ministers were on their knees 
making obeisance. Here we were ushered in and introduced. The 
sub-king inquired after our welfare, and betel was handed round on 
trays. We were then shown some books that were not to be found in 
La^ka at the time. We gazed at them in reverence, bowing our heads 
before the holy paper, and were graciously informed that these books 
and the priests would be given to us. Next a great feast of rice was 
served for us and our attendants, after which we received permission 
to withdraw. 
On the eleventh day of the solar month Thula, being Sunday, three 
officers came from the palace in the morning and informed us that they 
had received orders to accompany us to worship the Sacred Footprint 
at the spot known as Swarna Panchatha Maha Pahath. We accordingly 
proceeded up the river in boats, admiring the various viharas, gilt 
ddgabas, priests' houses, villages, fields, gardens of jak, cocoanut, areca- 
nuts, sugar-cane, and plantain, situated on either bank. We travelled 
a whole day and night, and at dawn on Monday we mounted on some 
female-elephants carrying gilt howdahs and proceeded accompanied by 
our attendants similarly mounted. By evening we arrived within sight 
