52 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VoL. XXII. 
There are manifest indications of the deliberate destruction of 
its superstructure {kota and hatares kotuwa) in the tons of brick 
debris, mortar bound, now biu'ying the base of the Dagaba, 
So far only a vihare, hugging its south-west face, has been 
excavated, simultaneously with the above-mentioned vihare near 
the Siva Devale. In its inner sanctuary were found a huge lime- 
stone hiti-pilima of the Buddha, fallen headlong, and another 
figure, with tall head-dress. 
Monastery near the North Gate of the City. 
Close outside the Northern Gateway through the ancient City 
wall lie the ruins of a small Monastery, within premises some 50 
yards square. This Monastery was excavated thoroughly. The 
most marked structures are a vihare and a dagaba. 
The vihare was of the familiar Polonnaruwa plan, with three 
images (of which the pedestals are in situ) ranged side by side 
towards the back. Some of the figures were uncovered on the 
floor — all broken. 
The dagaba differs from any yet examined at Polonnaruwa. 
It stood on a brick-faced maluwa, or platform, 57 ft. four-square, 
^raised 7 ft. 6 in. from ground level, and was reached by a steep 
flight of granite steps. The stairs are footed by a moonstone and 
a pair of Ndga dwdrapdlas. The revetment of the maluwa is 
faced in front by a most effective dado of twenty full-faced lions, 
between pilasters, sharply moulded in brick tiles. The dagaba 
proper had at base a diameter of about 30 ft. ; but it has been so 
mercilessly ^Trecked that its true outlines are difficult to recast. 
Treasure seekers had penetrated into the bell of the dagaba 
by a diagonal shaft, and gutted its garbha, or " relic chamber," 
which is partially exposed as they loft it. This chamber really 
comprised three cellas, superimposed one above the other, each 
measuring 3 ft. square nearly, and each containing wall niches 
for clay saucer lamps. The floor of the uppermost cella was 
paved by a stone yantra-gala of 25 partitions ; the second by 
a plain slab on which rose a small octagonal pillar, the " Indra- 
kila ;" the third, and lowest, by a second yantra receptacle, but 
of brick and in 9 divisions. 
Of the original deposits in these cellas, the only antiques 
ignored by the vandals were seven tiny bronze cobras found in two 
partitions of the bottom yantra receptacle. 
City Wall. 
The City wall to the west has been laid bare, inside and out, 
where the main road from Minneriya twice cuts through it. 
Ruins within Topdvewa Tank. 
Not far west of where an ancient horowiva (sluice) of Topa- 
vewa tank pierces the bund, occur fom* isolated ruins. 
