RECOLLECTIONS OF A JOURNEY 
line in the area, with their faces towards the impression* 
Here one of the group opens a small hook, formed of palm- 
leaves, and reads, or rather chaunts, a passage from it. At 
the termination of each passage or stanza he is joined by 
the whole party, male and female, in a loud chorus, or re- 
sponse. The form of words used on this occasion is, I am 
informed, called the Pan Sile, or Five Commandments of 
Buddhoo. They are all prohibitory, and forbid, 
1<5^, Killing any living creature. 
^d, Steahng. 
3c?, Committing adultery. 
4<th, Uttering a falsehood. 
5th, Drinking intoxicating liquors. 
This part of the ceremonies being completed, the pilgrims 
proceed to one of two bells, which are suspended upon 
frames situated close to the central rock. Here the pilgrims 
individually ring one of the bells, by pulling a string at- 
tached to the clapper. They then take some strips of cloth 
which have been previously dipped in oil, or ghee (clarified 
butter), and light them at one end. These wicks are placed 
upon an iron-stand or platform, erected for the purpose, 
and sometimes upon the edge of a large stone. 
In all the Singhalese temples, whenever offerings are 
made, lamps are lighted, and occasionally incense is burned. 
Lighted lamps, or censers, are carried before religious pro- 
cessions, and they used to precede the sovereign in days of 
state. 
On a shelf of the same rock in which the Sri pade is cut, 
there is a small deyo wahalla. A deyo wahalla is a temple 
consecrated to Vishnoo, Natte, or some other Brahminical 
deity. The literal meaning of the words deyo wahalla^ 
is, " House of God." Wahalle or Wassal (the h and 
s being used indifferently) means palace. When speaking 
of the king, the Kandyans used to call him Maha Wassal, 
