390 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
The year of Buddha 1959 equals 1416 of the Christian era, 
a year subsequent to that of the Beligala sannasa of 
Parakrama Bahu VI. The grantor is the son of Vijaya Bahu, 
the grantor of the first sword. It is probable that Maha 
Naga, the grantee, was the son of Ila Naga, the general of 
Vijaya Bahu. King Parakrama Bahu VI. reigned at Kotte 
from A.D. 1415 to 1467 ; and was the last great monarch of 
a united Lanka. 
[Note. — Mr. Fernando added the text and translation of an ola 
document (not produced) relating to the family from whose possession 
the swords came. In the absence of the ola itself as a test of age and 
genuineness, it has been deemed advisable to omit the text and 
translation furnished. — B., Ed, Sec.'] 
5. Mr. Advocate Batuwantudawa pointed out what he consi- 
dered anachronisms in the language. He was inclined to hesitate 
before accepting the ola and the inscriptions as genuine. 
Mr. P. E. PiERis congratulated Mr. Fernando on his Paper, and said 
that the ola was of interest as illustrating the existence of high caste 
families absorbed amongst the Sinhalese. A parallel case was that of 
the 10,000 Brahmins whom Iba Batuta found residing at the Deni 
Nuwara. He had himself come across olas of a similar nature in 
Sabaragamuwa, and hoped that some day their contents would be made 
accessible to the public. Turning to the swords, he said that it was 
impossible to doubt their genuineness. He was quite satisfied that 
they bore a genuine old Sirihalese inscription, probably written by 
order of a king. At the same time, comparing them with some 
Dutch swords of the eighteenth century, and from his own knowledge of 
ancient swords,* he was of opinion that the swords were of European 
origin, and probably not more than 300 years old. He also pointed out 
that the writing painted in white on the swords did not correspond 
with the inscribed letters underneath. Could Mr. Fernando tell him 
under whose supervision the photographer had painted the letters ? 
Mr. Fernando explained that the photographer had followed the 
manuscript of Simon de Silva, Mudaliyar, who had deciphered the 
inscriptions. 
Mr. PiERis could not accept the decipherment as correct, and wished 
to know whether the Society had referred the matter to any expert. 
Mr. Gr. A. Joseph explained that Mr. H. C. P. Bell had seen and 
handled the swords ; but that was many years ago and before he was 
appointed Archaeological Commissioner. 
Mr. PiERis said that it was most essential that the correctness of 
the reading of the inscription should be settled beyond any possibility 
of doubt. He had omitted one matter : the inscription on these two 
swords had already been quoted in full by Mr. Dharmaratna in a 
pamphlet called The Kara-Groi Contest" published about fifteen years 
ago which he (Mr. Pieris) now produced. 
