426 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[CHAr. 
were built of wood; all were exceedingly unpretentious, and 
without the least trace of style. The numerous priests and 
temple attendants lived in rather squalid and disorderly dwellings 
in the neighbourhood of the temple. They received me in a 
friendly way and showed me their books, of which they occa¬ 
sionally sold some. The negotiation several times ended by the 
STATQES IN A TEMPLE IN CEYLON. 
priest presenting me with the book I wished to purchase and 
positively refusing to receive compensation in any form. On 
one occasion the priest stated that he himself was prevented by 
the precepts of his religion from receiving the purchase-money 
agreed upon, but said that I might hand dt over to some of the 
