26 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
houses filled with the holy men, with worshippers of high rank and 
devotees of either sex. , 
From this place we proceeded to worship at the Pallankara Arama 
Yihare, the description of which is as follows. — The building is of 
three stages, built on a piece of level land by the bank of the river. 
Along the four walls were ranged various images of the Buddha and 
of Rahats as well as of gods and Brahmas, in diverse colours and 
adorned with gilding. In the middle was a glittering image of the 
Buddha life-size and seated on a throne, supported on either side by 
images of Sariyut and Maha Mugalan, all profusely adorned with 
gold. Facing this were two two-storied halls ; round about were gilt 
dagabas ; the very gateways were gilt, and the place was one labyrinth 
of preaching- and living-halls, thronged with priests, pious men, and 
devotees. After worshipping here we were taken back to our halting- 
place. 
On the twenty-first day of the solar month Kanya, being Sunday, three 
officers came in the morning and accompanied us in boats to the vihare 
called Maha Dhanvarama, in the district named Na pu than, that we 
might make offerings there to the Buddha and acquire merit, and also 
see the beauties of the place ; and this is what we saw there. The place 
was a fertile stretch of level land enclosed by four walls, outside which 
ran four canals. From the water-course to the east up to the gate 
there was a long covered passage of two stages. On entering at the 
gateway we saw on the four sides eight holy dagabas, so covered with 
gilding that they resembled masses of ki?iihirlya flowers. In the 
intervals were various images. Among them at the four sides were 
four buildings of two stages against the inner walls of which, and rising 
to the roof were large gilt images of the Buddha. Within the space 
enclosed by these were four handsome gilt dagabas with images 
interspersed. In the very centre of all was a dagaba richly adorned, 
with doors on the four sides fitted with stairs, up and down which we 
could ascend and descend. At the four corners of the square base of 
the spire were four dragons with wings outstretched and meeting 
above ; in the four panels were four images of gods adorned with 
all the divine ornaments, as well as images of the gods who preside at 
the four points of the compass, with their hands clasped overhead. In 
the intervals were images of door-guardians armed with swords, of 
rakshas with clubs and of bairayas with staves, while above the circular 
base of the spire were depicted in solid gold the sacred halo. On 
either side of the stair leading from the eastern gate ran two snakes, 
their bodies the size of palmirah palms ; where they reached the 
ground their hoods were raised and resting on slabs of crystal ; their 
open jaws and projecting fangs filled the hearts of those who saw 
them with terror. Starting from here there were ranged round the 
dagaba images of lions, bears, swans, peacocks, kinduras, deer, oxen, 
wolves, buffaloes, makaras, and door-guardians armed with swords. 
Also, carrying palm fans, chamaras, sesat^ triumphal chanks, and 
various offerings, with their hands clasped above their heads, were 
numerous images of Brahmas, Sakras, and the Suyama gods, all adorned 
with gold. In the hall to the east, with its eyes fixed on the dagaba, 
was an image of the Buddha supported on either side by images of the 
two great disciples with their hands clasped above their heads. Also 
there was another image of the lord as he was in life, begging for food 
with his bowl in his sacred hand. In another building, which was 
reached by a flight of steps, were various images of the Buddha and 
