No. 56.— 1905.] ANNUAL REPORT, 
343 
had to be removed in order that the vegetation which had taken root 
in the old pebble concrete filling behind might be dug out. Many 
stones had fallen on the maluwa. Fresh concrete was laid, and the 
stones of each course replaced one by one. Every pillar of the two 
quadrants (some broken in two or three pieces from toppling over on 
to the platform below) were carefully dowelled — delicate work owing 
to their slenderness — lifted, and re-erected in their original position. 
It may be possible ultimately to replace a small proportion of the 
ornamental capitals. As a start, the pillars flanking the northern 
entrance have already been thus finished off. 
The ornamental parapet slabs were also replaced, except close to 
the west stairs which must first be reset. Some had suffered greatly 
and had to be laboriously pieced together. 
The other two quadrants (south-east and south-west), now choked 
with vegetation, will be similarly restored in time. 
The undulating, and displaced, pavement slabs of the maluwa plat- 
form were also dealt with. About one-fourth was levelled and relaid 
last season. 
Everywhere all joints have been pointed in cement so as to prevent 
the fresh growth of insidious vegetation. 
Finally, two more of the four large granite Buddhas have been 
excellently reset. The deliberate destruction of these images by 
Tamil iconoclasts in old days had left not one single member whole. 
From such pieces as could be found — a score or more in each case—- the 
figures have been renewed piece by piece to exact size. 
Inasmuch as these four images form an integral part of the original 
design of the shrine their restoration was most desirable. 
The three Buddhas already restored (north, south, and west) have 
fully justified the great patience, pains, and plastic skill Mr. Fernando 
has personally expended upon them. Their present appearance adds 
greatly to the true character and picturesque elegance of this magni- 
ficent relic of the glories of Polonnaruwa in the thirteenth century. 
y apaliuwa, 
Yapahua-kanda, or "Subha-pabatta," was founded in the thirteenth 
century, during the usurpation of Mdgha, by Subha Senapati, a noble, 
who fortified himself on the hill bringing thither the Dalad4 relic. 
The city was captured, and the sacred relic carried off to Madura by 
Kulasekera Raja, of Pandi. 
A gigantic boulder rising abruptly from the plain ; a substantial 
bund starting from one side of the boulder, running into it on the 
other and enclosing a considerable area, leaving a precipitous side of 
rock exposed on the outside as a natural protection, affords a general 
idea of the city of Yapa.huwa. 
Three staircases led up to the Palace or Mdligdim, Of these, the 
highest consists of thirty-five steps flanked by heavy balustrades, and 
profusely ornamented with wonderfully carved figures. At the summit 
is a narrow terrace, from which a grand doorway gives entrance to the 
so-called palace itself. This is of no great size. 
This ruined topmost flight of steps, as well as part of the building 
surmounting it, were rebuilt in 1886 by Mr. A. E. Williams of the 
Public Works Department under orders of Sir A. H. Gordon, then 
Oovernor. 
r 
