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1445 
C3R27 
1908a 
v.l 


^'U.:.  J^^^'rzi;^^' 


Religious  Intercourse  Between  Ceylon  and  Slam 
In  the  Eighteenth  Century 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Religious    Intercourse 


BETWEEN 


CEYLON   AND    SIAM    ^ 

IN  THE  p:ighteenth  century. 


I. 

An  account  cf  King  Kirti  SrPs  Embassy  to  Siara 
in  Saka  1672  (1750  A.D.) 

translated  from  the  SINGHALESE 

BY 

P.   E.   PIERIS,   ALA.,   Barrister-at-Law,   CCS. 


Hoprint<?d  under  the  auspices  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Vajirafu'ina  National  Library  from  the 
Journal  of  the  Koyal  Asiatic  Society  Ceylon 
Branch,  Vol.  XVIIL 


BANGKOK: 

"SIAM     OBSERVER"     OFFICE. 

1908. 


>v 


f 


>  .  tp  V-  c;  5  / 


n^HE  Embassy  which  was  sent  from  Cevlon  to 
Siam  in  the  IStli  Century  in  the  reign  of  the 
KincT  Kirti  Srirajasih  with  a  view  of  inviting  priests 
from  Siam  to  inaugurate  an  ordination  service  has 
formed  the  subject  of  accounts  written  in  Singhalese 
and  Siamese. 

The  account  here  published  is  an  exact  reprint 
from  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society  Ceylon 
Branch.  Vol.  XVIII.  of  the  translation  made  by 
P.  E.  PiERis  of  the  "account  of  King  Kirti  Sri's 
embassy  to  Siam  in  Saka  1672  (1750  A.D.)"   ) 

Some  obvious  mistakes  in  the  notes  have  been 
corrected,  and  it  may  be  mentioned  that  **  Muang 
Nolak  Van"  mentioned  on  page  12  is  a  Singhalese 
misreading  of  the  Siamese  '*  Tahlt  Khvan  "  the  pre- 
sent Nonthaburi. 

A  translation  of  the  account  of  the  embassy 
known  under  the  title  of  **  Syamopadasamvata  "  has 
been  received  through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  W.  A,  Gr. 
Tilleke,  and  it  will  shortly  be  issued. 

The  Siamese  accounts  mentioned  in  the  Journal 
Asi.'itique  X*^  Serie,  Vol.  VIII.  and  in  the  Journal  of 
the  Siam  Society,  Vol.  IV,  will  likewise  be  published. 

O.   FRANKFURTER. 


Vajiranana  National  Library, 
November,  1908. 


J548G27 


k 


r 


An  Account  of  King  Kirt!  Srfs  Embassy  to  Siaur 
in  1672  Saka  ^750  A.  D.) 


•    i 


Translatec  from  tbe  Siulialese  bv  P.  E.  Pieris, 
M.A.,  Barrister -at-Law,  c.c.c. 


Introductory  Note. 

Thk  learued  RatanajiVa  Stbavira,  who 
wrote  the  Sinlialese  translation  of  the  Vimdna 
Wastuv'ci  in  the  Saka  }ear  lt>92  (1770  a.d.), 
has  left  a  short  sketch  of  the  hi^tcrj  of  the 
decline  of  the  priesthood  in  Li?iVa  and  of  the 
attempts  made  under  various  Lings  to  re- 
establish it  on  a  sound  basis.  He  saja  as 
follows  :  — 

Two  hundred  and  forty  years  after  the 
death  of  our  hivd  Buddha,  the  shelter  of  all 
the  worlds,  who  departed  this  life  after  he  had 
for  forty-fiva  years  showered  oa  all  the  heaven- 
ly food  of  his  doctrine,  and  had  accomplished 
every  act  which  befits  a  Buddha,  when  the 
Maha  Kiiji  Petissa  was  holding  sway  over  our 
Island  of  Lanla,  his  doctrine  was  first  intro- 
duced by  Mahindu  Maha  The  6  and  the  other 
priests  who  accompanied  him  from  Djmbadiva ; 
ever  since  the  faithful  and  wise  kings  who  have 
reigned  from  time  to  time,  aided  by  their  great 
ministers  and  the  efforts  of  pious  priests  learned 
in  the  law,  had  carefully  swept  away  all  schisms 
that  had  sprung  up  and  preserved  the  doctrine 
inviolate.  But  in  recent  times  the  disappear- 
ance of  such  kings  and  ministers,  followed  bj 
the  oppression  of  the  unbelieving  Parangis  and 
Damilai,  had  robbed  the  pious  priests  of  the 
Four  Necessaries;  and  as  the  religious  younff 
men  of  good  families  who  assumed  the  robe  bad 


(    2    ) 

not  the  learning  to  studj  with  care  the  Three 
Pl/ikas,  which  contain  the  Vinaya.  Sii^ra,  and 
Abhidharma,  and  to  order  their  lives  in  con- 
onanee  with  the  precepts  contained  therein,  by 
decrees  power  fell  into  the  hands  of  low-born 
priests  of  profane  life,  to  the  great  injury   of 
the  church.     And  as  for  the  priestly  succession, 
which  beginning  from  U^a'i  SttAvirajo^  whom 
the  Puddha  him^:elf  had  named  as  the  first  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  Vinaya,  and  continued  in 
the  persons  of  Dasekaya,  Sonakaya,  Siggavaya, 
Moggaljputthaya,  Mihindu,  c^'2.,  and  recruited 
from  all  pious  folk  who  assumed  the  robe  with- 
out  any   distinction    of    family   in   proper    and 
perpetual  succession  of  master  and  pupil,  this 
they   ignored  :    and,    confusing   physical    with 
spiritual  kinship,  refused  to  allow  pious  youner 
men   of  good   family   to  assume  the  robe,  and 
treated  all  the  estates  and  wealth  which  gene- 
rations of  godly  kings   and    ministers   had  deli- 
cated  to  the  service  of  the  priesthood  as  if  they 
had  been   dedicated  to  the  use  of  their  private 
families.     Accordingly,   for   the   sake    of    this 
wealth,  they  had  the    members  of   their   own 
families    ordained,    so  that  as  being   in   robes 
they  might  receive  the  due  Rajil  ariya,  pretend- 
ing that  this  was  the  succession  appointed  by 
the  church.     But  indeed  that  succession,  which 
was    maintained    immaculate   by    disrobing   all 
priests  who  had  violated  their  oaths  and  by  the 
ordination  of  religious    and    well-born  youths, 
was    reduced  to  a   mockery  ,    atid,   save  for  a 
few    holy   priests,    the    m'^jority   were  as   men 
fouling   themselves   with    hot   ashes   while  the 
gems  lay  before  them.     And  while  the  Dharma 
and  the  Vinaya,  subjects  for  unending  study, 
lay  in  their  path,  they  preferred  the  study  of 
such  profane   matters    as  astrology,  medicine, 
snd  devil-worship,  all  of  which  they  practiced 


(    3    ) 

in  unbecoming  fashion  within  and  without  the 
capital,  and  thu3  winning  the  goodwill  of  kings 
and  powerful  ministers,  they  obtained  much 
wealth  and  high  office.  They  led  scandaloua 
lives  and,  ignoring  the  precepts  of  the  law 
thej  betook  themselves  to  cultivation  anl 
trade,  accumulatingf  jewellery  and  clothes,  ani 
making  the  support  of  their  brothers  anl 
nephews  an  article  of  their  faith.  When  by 
the  increase  in  the  number  of  these  shameless 
priests  and  by  the  oppression  of  the  unbelieving^ 
Parabsis  and  Dami'as  the  faith  was  on  the 
brink  of  destruction,  it  came  to  pass  that  a 
valiant  and  poweiful  king  of  the  name  of  htija, 
Si?iba  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  Laj'.Va,  In 
the  year  of  Budiiha  2199  he  reduced  the  strong 
fortress  of  Colombo  and  crushed  the  power  of 
the  Parangi?.  He  also  invited  over  the  Hoi- 
landers  anJ,  with  the  object  of  protecting  tha 
rovdl  line  ai^.d  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island 
from  the  attacks  of  unbelieving  foreigners,  he 
appointed  them  to  be  the  guardians  of  the 
coasti 

The  way  beingr  thus  cleared,  his  succassor 
Wimala  Dbarma  Siuiya  devoted  himself  to  the 
good  work  ;  and  indeed  the  need  was  pressing, 
as  it  was  admitted  that  not  more  than  five 
Upasampada  priests  of  holy  lite  were  to  be 
found  in  the  Island.  He  accordingly  sent  an 
embassy  to  the  **  JRakka?igu  Riti  "  (Arracan  ?) 
and  obtained  thence  the  ten  ranks  of  priests, 
who  were  required  for  the  ordination  ceremony. 
This  pious  king  died  after  a  rrigu  of  twenty- 
two  years  and  was  succeeded  by  the  lukewarm 
Naieadra  Si7iha,  under  whom  all  the  scandalous 
practices  of  the  priesthood  revived.  **  So  far 
from  begging  from  door  to  door,''  the  his- 
torian bitterly  complains,  •*  they  regarded  eveu 
the  eating  out  of  their  alms-bowls  as  a  disgrace 


(  4  ) 

Their  food  was  cooked  in  the  same  fashion  as 
that  of  the  great  nobles  among  the  laitj,  and  it 
was  eaten  out  of  plates.  In  fact,  thej  were 
priests  is  nothing  but  the  use  of  the  name,** 

There  was  one  bright  exception,  in  the 
person  of  Sara^inkara  the  future  Sa7iga  Eaja ; 
Le  continued  with  a  small  band  in  the  practice 
or  the  severest  austerities  and  the  pursuit  of 
Iparning,  waiting  for  the  batter  daj  that  was  to 
dawn. 

After  a  reign'^of  twentj-three  jears  Na« 
lendra  Sinha  was  succeeded  by  Wijaja  f?aja 
Sinha,  "a  king  endowed  with  all  the  virtues, 
the  ornament  of  the  Sokr  race,  who  sought  his 
refuge  in  the  Three-fold  Gem,*'  sajs  the  enthusi- 
astic chronicler.  Early  in  his  reign  he  sent  an 
embassy  to  fetch  a  body  of  priests  ;  the  expedi- 
tion was  however  disastrous,  all  exc^^pt  one 
perishing  in  the  sea  ;  the  survivor  made  his 
way  to  Pegu,  whence  he  returned  home  to  tell 
the  sorrowful  tale. 

But  the  king  did  not  lose  heart ;  a  spcond 
embassy  was  soon  ready  and  provided  with 
suitable  offering.*.  On  arriving  at  Batavia  the 
presents  were  left  behind,  while  the  ambassa- 
dors proceeded  to  Siam  to  inquire  if  priests 
were  available;  but  on  their  return  to  Bttavia 
they  learnt  that  their  good  king  was  dead,  and 
as  their  Dutch  hosts  advised  them  not  to 
convey  the  priests  without  first  ascertaining  the 
wishes  of  the  ru'iog  king,  they  reluctantly  set 
sail  for  hirikii  leaving  the  presents  behind, 
their  object  unaccomplished.  Their  misfortunes 
were  however  only  begun,  as  on  the  voyage  the 
majority  perished,  but  few  surviving  to  reach 
their  country. 

There  King  Kirti  Sri  Raja  Sinha,  the  great 
reformer,   had   succeeded    to  the   Crown ;    he 


(    5    ) 

applied  himself  vigorouslj  to  sweeping  away  all 
the  abuses  that  had  crept  into  the  priesthood, 
dblj  and  zealously  lupported  by  Saranankara 
Unrante  and  his  Minister  Ehelapola.  Hia 
crowning  work  was  the  re-institution  of  the 
Upasampac'ji.va  in  Lanla  ;  the  romantic  historj 
of  the  embassy  he  sent  to  Siam  to  fetch  the 
necessary  priests  will  be  shown  in  the  following^  • 
account,  which,  as  appears  fiom  the  internal 
evidence,  must  have  been  written  either  bj 
Ellepola  Mohc/Mla  or  Eittalijadde  Rala,  two 
out  of  the  five  Sinhalese  ambasadors. 

The    present  translation,    which    does     not 
pretend    to    literal   accuracy,   is   made   from  a 
paper   manuscript    which    has  been  generously 
placed     at   my    disposal   by    E.  K.  Gooneratne 
Mudalijdr    of   Galie;   it   was  found  among  the 
papers   of   the   late  Valentine  de  Saram,  Maha 
Mudalijar,  and  was  given  by  his  son-in-law,  the 
late    Bandaiaiaike  Maha  Mudalija^-,  to  his  own 
nephew  the  present  owner.     A   second  account, 
written   by  VVillaTedara   Muhandiram,  another 
of  the  ambasS'idors  is  in  existence;  the   additio- 
nal    information    contained    therein      will    be 
found  erabDdied  in  the  notes.     I  have  been  also 
favoured  with  the  comments  of  the  noble  Priest 
Jinawarawarzsi,  once  known  as  the  Prince  Pris- 
dang  of  Siam  ;  these,  too,  will  ba  found  includ- 
ed there.     I   have   further  to   acknowledge  the 
great    assistance     I  have    received    from  Don 
Dines  Dahanayake   of  Galle  in  the  preparation 
of  this  article  — 

TRANSLATION. 

Our  mighty  lord,  sprung  from  Maha  Sammata 
of  the  family  of  Manu,  king  of  kings,  and  ruler 
of  the  world,  our  gracious  and  illustrious  king,  in 
the  magnitude  of  his  kindness  and  splendour  of 


(     6     ) 

his  god-!ike  kr.owledg^e  gave  orJer  that  ambassa^ 
dors  should  proceed  to  the  kingdom  of  Siauj 
to  fetch  tbeDce  the  priesthood  and  reestablish 
the  festival  ot  the  Great  Ordination. 

Accordingly  we  started  in  the  Saka  year  1672' 
named  Prabavadithmi,  on  the  twelfth  day  of 
the  solar  month  Kataka,  being  Thursday  the 
fiftli  day  of  the  lunar  month,  at  dusk,  from  the 
noble  city  of  Senkadagala  called  Siriwardhana^ 
pura,  escorting  the  royal  message  and  presents 
with  all  care.  The  following  had  been  appoin- 
ted to  form  the  embassy,  viz ,  Pattapola 
Mohcffa'a,  the  Atapattu  Lekama;  Ellepola 
Mohc/f  ila;  the  VecZiktaa  Lekama;  Iiiyagama 
Ea'a,  the  Yafinuwara  Muhandiram  of  the 
Nil  ii/akka -a  Lekama  ;  VVilbaTjedara  Rala,  the 
Tumpanahe  Muhandiram  of  the  Padikara 
Lekama;  and  Eittaliyadde  Rala,  the  Dumbera 
Muhandiram  of  the  Yedil<ara  Lekama;  while 
Pinnapata,  Dissave  of  Ma'^ale;  Angammana 
Mohc^fila,  the  Maha  Lekama  :  Dodanwela,  Kite 
E-ala  of  Yatinuwara  ;  Nilawature  Rala,  Muhand. 
iram  of  the  Lekama  cf  Musketeers;  and 
Usgiriya  Rala.  Muhandiram  of  the  Nanayakkara 
Lekama,  had  been  commanded  to  accompany  us 
on  board  ship. 

Oar  first  halt  was  at  Wa^firanf  inna.  Thence 
we  started  on  the  fourth  day,  being  Sunday,  at 
the  tenth  hour,  and  approached  God^pola 
Nuwara,  where  we  rested  two  days.  Oj  Tues- 
day we  started  at  thp  eleventh  hour  of  the  morn- 
ninor  and  halted  at  Nalaida.  On  Wednesday  we 
halted  at  Gonawala,  on  Thursday  at  Mingiri- 
wewa,  on  Friday  at  A'utwewa,  on  Saturday  at 
Gantale,  and  on  Sundny  we  reached  Tambala- 
gamuwa,  where  we  rested  two  days.  On  Tues-- 
day  we  started  at  the  thirteenth  hour  and  about 
the  eighth  hour  after  dark  we  approached    the 


(     7    ) 

harbour  cf  Tiincomalee,  where  three  officers 
from  the  fort  met  us  ar»d  accompanied  us  with 
the  royal  message  and  presents  together  with 
our  attendants  and  soldiers,  amidst  every  mark 

3  of  respect,  to  our  halting  place.  On  Wednes- 
day afternoon  we  were  escorted  with  much 
ceremony  within  the  fort,  where  we  had  an 
interview  befittinor  the  occasion  with  the  Com- 
mander, after  which  we  were  ao^ain  escorted 
back  to  our  lodging,  when  the  officers  left  us, 

Oa  the  morning  of  the  following  Thursday^ 
being  the  fifth  day  of  the  lunar  month,  about 
the  twenty-eighth  hour,  in  the  propitious 
ast«^rism  Hata  in  the  Makara  Lagna,  when 
Venus  was  in  the  ascendant,  we  went  on  board. 

4  Here  we  remained  seven  days  till  on  Wednesday 
morninsr  at  the  twenty-seventh  hour  the   flags 
were  run  up  and  eail   hoisted,  the  anchors  were 
weighed,  and   we   steered   cut   of   the    harbour 
with  a  fair  breez».     Go  the  following  Thursday 
night  ab  ut  the  sixteenth   hour  a   storm   over- 
took us  and  the  ship  was  in  great  danger.     Two 
masts  and  sails  and  several  ropes  were  destr  yed, 
and  the  ship  wbs  driven  round  and  round.  In 
our  peril  we  consoled  ourselves  with  the  reflection 
of  the  Three  fold  Gem,  till  our  gallant  captain 
came  and  bid  us  be  of  good  cheer.     Till^Friday 
morning  he  was  encouraging  his  skilful  steers- 
man   to    s^and    by    the   helm,    and    we   rushed 
forward  at  a  great  pace.     We  roughly  repaired 
the  damage  and  drr  ve  the  ship  before  the  wind 
for  twelve  days  and  nights  without  ceasing,  till 
Monday   morning  we  saw   to  the  north  a  long 
stretch   of  level   land   and  a  high   range  of  hills 
with  three  beautiful   peaks,   mountains  of  enor- 

5  mous  S'z^,  shaped  like  corn  ricks.  Next  we 
sighted  Acheen  and  Sumatra  and  learned  that 
they  were  inhabited  by  Javanese.  Till  noon  on 
the   eighth    day,    being    Monday,    these    great 


(    8    ) 

plains  and  hills  and  rockj  mountains  remained 
in  sight.  On  this  day  the  wind  dropped  and  we 
were  at  a  standstill  for  seven  days,  and  were 
even  obliered  to  cast  anchor  to  prevent  the  ship 
drifting  back.  At  last  on  Sunday  morning, 
the  wind  freshening,  we  weighed  anchor  again 
and  started.  By  midday  we  sighted  t>  the 
north  a  lofty  range  of  mountains  and  two 
stretches  of  low  land  at  the  mouth  of  a 
river  as  well  as  a  harbour,  this  was  a  country 
inhibited  by  Malays.  To  north,  south,  east, 
and  west  we  saw  four  small  vessel?,  and  on  the 
north-Bast  a  largre  ship.  Our  captain  was  greatly 
alarmed,  as  he  did  not  know  if  they  were  friends 
or  foes,  and  while  they  were  sdll  at  a  distance 
he  weighed  anchor,  turned  his  ship  round,  and 
steered  back  fifteen  gavvas. 

Having  thus  escaped  the  danger  we  started 
again  on  cur  way,  and  seven  days  later  on  Sunday 
morning  we  sighted  on  the  east  a  great  rocky 
mountain  surrounded  by  a  dense  forest  of  kolon 
trees  with  a  bank  of  sand  stretching  round  it. 
The  captain,  telling  us  that  if  we  drew  '^ear  we 
wou'd  not  be  able  to  cross  the  bar,  mada  great 
efforts  for  seven  days  to  tcck  to  the  south  ;  he 
succeeded  at  last  and  we  started  again  at  dawn 
on  Sunday  and  sailed  on  for  four  days.  In  the 
evening  we  sounded  and  found  twelve  fathoms 
of  water,  and  as  there  was  a  stretch  of  sand  by 
the  mouth  of  a  river  we  furled  sail  and  dropped 
anchor*  On  Taursday  sail  was  hoisted  in  the 
ship's  boat  and  several  people  with  an  officer 
started  to  explore.  They  returned  on  Friday 
morning  ahd  reported  that  extensive  sandbanks 
lay  on  every  side. 

The  captain  accordingly  fitted  out  another 
boat  with  all  the  necessary  tackle  and  sent  an 
officer  with  eight  sailors  to  Malacca.     On  Satur. 


{  9  ) 

(lay  morning  our  ship  snapped  oneof  her  cables^ 
lost  her  anchor,  nnd  bejjan  to  toss  about;  but 
our  captain  quickly  lowered  another  anchor. 
Seven  days  later  on  Thursday,  five  hours  after 
dawn,  the  officer  who  had  proceeded  to  Malacca 
returned  with  the  Company's  factor  and  the 
chief  carpenter  called  the  Bass  Thuvan  h^ra- 
roath,  who  brought  with  them  in  two  sloops  a 
lar^ie  supply  of  water,  betel,  and  arecanuts 
with  cocoanuts  tender  and  hard  ;  they  address- 
ed us  with  great  kindness  atd  re-starting  the 
ship  we  arrived  the  same  evening  at  the 
harbour  of  Malacca.  Here  we  \>aited  three  days 
till  five  officers  came  on  boaid  fiom  the  fort  to 
welcome  us  and  take  us  with  the  loyal  message 
and  presents  with  our  attendants  on  land  ;  this 
was  at  dusk  on  Sunday  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
the  solar  month  Kanya,  being  the  eleventh  day 
of  the  waning  half  of  the  lunar  month.  On  land- 
ing we  were  conducted  with  great  ceremony  to 
our  halting  place.  On  the  seventh  day  following 
b"ing  AVednesday,  the  Governor  and  the  Fiscal 
called  on  us  in  the  afternoon  to  inquire  after 
cur  well-bein^,  and  the  next  day  five  officers 
took  us  in  horse  carriages  to  return  the  visit  and 
accompanied  us  back  again.  On  Sunday  the 
twelfth  day  of  the  solar  month  we  were  taken 
back  on  boardship  in  sloops.  Here  we  found  all 
the  damage  properly  repaired,  and  at  dawn  on 
Wednesday  we  set  sail  and  proceeded  without 
stopping  for  eight  days,  till  on  Thursday  we  saw 
a  range  of  mountains,  rocky  plains,  hills,  and 
sandy  stretches  surrounding  us  like  the  embank- 
ment of  a  tank.  Th«  captain  and  officers  after 
much  deliberation  declared  that  it  would  be 
useless  to  sail  back  ;  and  examining  their  chart 
and  noticing  three  leafy  trees  on  one  of  the 
stretches  of  sand  that  lay  in  our  way,  they  steer- 
ed the  ship  through  a  narrow   passage  that  lay 


(   10  ) 

near  and  after  four  days  passed  the  range  of 
mountains.  Then  we  proceeded  four  days  till, 
on  Thursday  evening,  on  looking;  round  us  we 
saw  that  we  had  passed  the  ranges  of  hills  and 
high  mountains  with  their  plains  and  great  for- 
ests hnd  the  sea  with  its  stretches  of  sand,  and 
had  reached  the  open.  As  the  wind  failed  we 
cast  anchor,  having  three  mountains  to  our 
south.  After  ten  days  the  wind  freshened  some- 
what, so  we  weighed  anchor  and  tacked 
about  for  five  days  and  nights,  trying  in  vain 
to  get  on  to  our  course.  As  we  were  drifting 
backard  were  too  far  to  the  south  to  reach  Siam, 
the  captain  and  officers  held  a  consultation,  and 
as  they  saw  from  their  books  that  there  was  no 
hope  of  a  favourable  wind  for  the  rext  six 
months,  they  agreed  that  it  was  necesary  to 
stop  on  the  way  till  then.  After  informing  us 
of  their  decision  they  turned  back,  and  on  the 
afteri  oon  on  Friday,  being  fourteen  days  later, 
we  aj  proached  the  habour  of  Malacca  a  second 
time  and  cast  anchor.  After  some  delay  five 
officer^  came  on  board  from  the  fort  to  interview 
us  and  took  us  on  land  with  the  Royal  message 
and  presents  in  boats.  This  was  on  the  after- 
noon of  .'^aturday  ihe  ppventef  nth  day  of  the 
solar  month  Vrischika.  We  wern  received  with 
great  distinction  and  the  same  halting-placa  as 
befo^owas  assioned  to  u^,  and  all  our  wants 
were  >upplied  without  stint.  From  this  day  we 
remair;d(-d  here  fivn  n;onths  and  elt-ven  days 
till  the  twenty- -eventh  day  of  the  solar  month 
Me  a,  being  Thursday  the  eleventh  day  of  the 
lunar  month  in  the  Saka  year  1673,  On  the 
morning  of  this  day,  at  the  twentieth  hour, 
we  werp  taken  on  board  with  many  presents 
and  a  large  supply  of  nfces«:aries;  a  skilled 
pilot  waF  also  ordered  to  accompany  us,  and 
500  nx-dolUrs  were  placed  at  our  disposal. 


(  11  ) 

From  Ibis  day,  bein^  Friday,  till  Monday 
the  fourteenth  day  of  the  solar  month  Vrasam- 
la,  which  is  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  dark 
half  of  the  lunar  month,  we  sailed  on  without 
casting  anchor  or  meetinof  with  any  mischance. 
On  the  morning  of  this  day  at  the  eleventh 
hour  we  approached  the  harbour  of  Slam,  and 
seeintT  a  ship  which  was  recognized  from  her 
appearance  as  the  Hollander's  ship  **Karta,*' 
the  captain  and  officers  were  greatly  rejoiced 
and  fired  off  the  ^uns  and  celebrated  games, 
speakins:  to  us  most  kindly  and  asking  us  to 
join  ttem.  When  we  dropped  anchor  the 
Hollandpr's  flag  was  lowered,  and  the  Lion  Flag 
of  LanVa  was  hoisted  at  the  masthead;  at  the 
samf^  time  the  captain  got  into  his  boat  and 
sailed  quickly  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  and 
up  to  the  country  of  Siam. 

Seven  days  later,  on  Monday  morning  three 
messenorers  came  rn  board  from  Siam  and  had 
an  interview  with  u?:  they  went  and  saw  how 
the  royal  message  was  disposed,  and  prostrated 
themselves  and  made  obeii^ance  before  it  three 
times;  after  this  they  presented  us  with  co- 
coaruts  tender  and  hard,  with  betel  and  areca- 
nut',  ard  went  away  the  same  day.  On  the 
twentieth  day  of  the  solar  month  Mitbuna, 
which  is  the  eighth  dny  of  the  increasincr  iiioon 
of  the  lunar  month  Poson,  being  Wednesday, 
abcut  the  tenth  hour  of  the  morning,  two  officers 
came  from  the  capital  and  accompanied  us  with 
the  roy«l  message  and  presents  to  the  place 
called  Ain>terdHm,  which  is  built  at  the  mouthof 
the  river;  here  we  landed  and  remained  two  days 
On  the  moTningof  the  third  day,  beinj2 Friday  the 
ninth  dayofthemonth,  the  message  was  trans- 
fered  to  a  boat  adorned  with  various  devices,  with 
hangings  of  silk  and  red  stuffs  which  seived   as 


(    12    ) 

curtains,  with  awningfs  above  and  carpets  below. 
The  presents  were  taken  in  thirteen  boats :  five 
boats  were  set  apart  for  the  five  ambassadors, 
and  our  attendants  too  were  similarly  provided 
for.  The  escort  that  had  come  from  Siam  ac- 
companied us  in  forty-eia;ht  boats  with  their 
tents  adorned  in  the  manner  described  above, 
rowinsr  on  either  side  of  us.  Eig;ht  large  boats 
with  flags  and  umbrellas  were  attached  to  the 
one  convf yinj;  the  royal  message  by  means  of 
stout  ropes,  one  to  each,  thus  taking  the  latter 
in  tow.  We  proceeded  in  this  manner  up  the 
river  amidst  great  rejoicings  on  the  part  of  the 
people,  and  the  same  afternoon  we  reached  the 
district  called  Bangkok.  The  Siamese  ofiicer 
stationed  here  received  us  with  great  respect 
and  provided  us  with  all  necessaries. 

The  next  morning,  being  Saturday,  the  chief 
priests  from  the  neighbouring  viharas  were 
invited  to  the  spot,  and  accepted  alms  at  our 
hands  with  robes  and  the  priestly  necessaries, 
and  the  Paiichaj^iia  was  administered,  after 
which  we  and  our  attendants  were  entertained 
at  a  feast.  Leaving  here  the  same  morning 
we  arrived  in  the  evening  at    the    district  called 

10  Mung  Nolak  Van,  where  too  the  Siamese  oflScer 
entertained  us.  The  next  morning  being  Sun- 
day, he  arranged  for  the  chief  priests  to  come 
and  accept  offerings  at  our  hands  and  toad- 
minister  Pansil,  after  which  we  were  entertain- 
ed in  turn.  Immediately  after  this  we  started^ 
and  by  rowing  the  whole    night   we  reached  the 

U  spot  called  Wat  Pro  Yath  at  dawn  on  Monday, 
and  halted  near  the  great  vihara  there.  Here 
too  we  were  received  with  the  same  ceremony 
and  similar  religious  exercises  were  arranged 
for  us  by  the  officer  in  command  ;  further,  in 
Qbedience  to  the  king's   order  he   arranged  an 


12 


(    13    ) 

Upasampada  ChAritra  Pinkama  at  this  temple, 
so  thac  we  might  both  derive  pleasure  rnd 
acquire  merit  by  the  sight. 

We  remained  seven  days,  and  at  dawn  on 
the  ei<^hth  day,  being:  Monday,  five  great  officers 
of  State  came  from  the  capital  and  took  the 
royal  message  in  a  large  canopied  litter  which 
was  placed  on  board  a  jjilt  boat,  while  wa 
proceeded  in  five  others  accompanied  by  the 
presents  and  attendants.  When  we  reached 
thesp^t  called  Bai  Pas  Sath  the  two  banks 
of  th3  river  were  adorned  with  arches  of  gold 
and  fcilver  cloth,  while  a  large  concourse  of 
people  holding  flags  and  umbrellas  of  various 
kinds  were  thronged  together  on  gaily  decked 
boats ;  we  were  filled  with  admiration  at  the 
sights  on  this  river,  crowded  as  it  vvas  with 
every  kind  of  meicbandise. 

About  the  eighth  hour  of  the  s^me  mornings 
we  approached  the  capital  of  A3  6ihya  Pura  and 
were  presented  to  the  sub  king.  We  showed  13 
him  the  royal  message  and  prej-ents  at  which 
he  expressed  his  great  pleasure  and  spoke  to  us 
most  kindly  for  a  shcrt  time  and  inquired  about 
our  journey.  He  further  informed  us  that  a 
subsequent  communication  would  be  made  to  us 
regarding  the  presentation  of  the  royal  message 
and  presents  at  the  court.  After  this  he  desir- 
ed us  to  return  to  our  halting^  place;  we  accord- 
ingly returned  down  the  river  to  the  Dutch 
settlement. 

When  the  Siamese  officers  bad  conveyed  the 
news  to  the  king,  he  sent  orders  that  we  and 
our  attendants  were  to  be  fully  supplied  with 
all  necessaries  from  the  royal  stores  during  our 
stay  here. 


(    H    ) 

Liter  some  officers  came  with  a  laro[fl  supply 
of  all  kinds  of  eiitables  and  sweets  of  sugar, 
with  mandarin  oranges,  ripB  plantains,  betel, 
arecanuts,  limo,  tobacco,  and  various  other 
articles,  Thej  came  a  spc:)nd  time  and  dis- 
14  tributed  silver  coins  called  t'tccal  and  tnamm-puwa 
from  the  rojal  treasury  amoni^  us  all.  Moreover, 
the  tradespeople  were  ordered  to  attend  the 
people  from  La/ika,  the  chief  priests  of  the 
vita^as  were  requested  to  be  so  kind  as  to  visit 
the  men  at  all  tiLies  and  to  preach  hana,  and  to 
pl-a>e  them  by  allowing  them  to  olTer  the  usual 
offerings  and  thus  acquire  merit. 

On  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  solar  month 
KataLa  about  five  hours  before  dawn  three 
officers  came  and  accompanied  us  in  boats;  we 
landed  in  the  street  at  the  great  gate  in  the  city 
wall  fid  entered  carriages  drawn  by  horses. 
The  two  sides  of  the  street  were  decorated  with 
various  kinds  of  cloths  and  hung  with  e:ilt  lamps 
shaped  like  pumpkins  decorated  with  glass  and 
plates  of  mica;  the  street  shone  as  with  moon- 
light in  the  blaze  of  a  hundred  thousand  lamps. 
We  drove  up  the  midile  of  the  street  as  far  as 
the  great  gate  called  Yam  Thak ;  it  was  one 
unbroken  stretch  of  gold-worked  cloths  of  five 
colours,  trays  and  boxes  of  silver  and  gold, 
ornaments  of  copper,  bronze,  brass,  and  zinc, 
red  and  white  .[sandalwood,  embroidered  quilts 
and  curtains,  all  kinds  of  medical  stores,  rice, 
cocoanuts,  plantains,  mandarin  oranges,  orangee, 
sweet  meats,  all  manner  of  flowers,  all  manner  of 
eatables  and  drinkables,  with  sweets  and  meats  ; 
the  shops  were  adorned  with  erilding,  and  the 
street  a  blaze  of  splendour.  When  we  arrived 
within  sight  of  the  palace,  which  shone  with  gilt 
work,  we  alighted  from  our  carriages  and  rested 
a  short  time  in  a  hall  hung  with   beautiful  cur- 


(   15   ) 

tains  where,  accordiDg:  to  their  custom,  sapii 
dowers  were  presented  to  u?.  Then  we  proceed- 
ed within  the  palace,  pntprins:  bj  two  sjatea 
ndorne  1  with  i^ildinj^  and  all  kinds  of  colours. 
On  either  side  of  the  fjreat  throne  were  arranged 
ficrures  of  benr.',  lions,  ia'<shas,  door-guirdians, 
na^jas,  and  bsirawa  yaksha};!^,  two  of  each, 
adornei  with  j^old.  In  their  midst  rose  the 
throne  which  appeared  about  10  cubits  bififh  ; 
round  it  were  fix^d  fjolden  sesat,  while  marvellous 
golden  embroideries  were  hung  round.  The 
walls  themselves  were  gilt  and  the  spires  above 
the  dais  were  of  gold.  Here  we  were  brought 
before  the  king  and  presented  the  rojal  letter 
and  present?,  after  which  we  were  graciously 
permitted  to  visit  the  interior  of  the  place. 

To  the  right  of  this  was  a  gilt  elephant  stall ; 

within — covered  with   trappings    of    solid    gold, 

with  golden  bells,  frontlets,  and  eje-chaiu'?,  gold- 

w^orked  Jiendiucci  and  auJcusa,  behind  a   network 

of  ropes  plated  with  gold,  with  a  golden  awning 

above  secured  to  a  post  covered    with    plates   of 

gold,  with  gilt  tail  and  trunk,  its  tusks  adorned 

with    golden    rings    and    encased     with    golden 

sheaths  set  with  two  magnificent  gems  at  their 

tips,  eating  sugar  cane  from    a    large    gilt   boat 

set  up  within, while  another  such  held  water   for 

its  use — there  stood,  on  a  gold-worked  platform, 

a  tusked  Elephant,  with  its  eyes   and    hair    the    15 

colour  of  copper.     In  a  similar  stall  was  a  black 

tusker  thickly  covered  with  gray  spots.  Similarly 

on  our  left  were  two  elephants  in  their  stalls. 

In  front  of  the  gate  in   a  gilt   stable,   almost 
hidden  beneath   their  trappings   of   solid   gold, 
was  a  ring  of  horses  ;  a  similar  ring  faced  this^ 
also  another  of  elephants   with    gilt   trappings.    16 
In  the  intervals  of  these  was   an   innumerablar 


(    16    ) 

host  armed  with  gilt  swords  and  shields  resting 
on  their  knee^ ;  another  dressed  in  armour  with 
tridents  in  their  hands;  another  armed  with 
bows  with  gilt  quivers  suspended  round  their 
necks  ;  another  of  specially  powerful  men  wear- 
ing on  their  heads  the  spiie-shaped  Siamese  hat ; 
and  another  standinj^^  in  line  with  guns  and 
pouches.  There  was  also  a  motley  crowd  resting 
on  their  knees,  dresspdin  gorgeous  clothes,  with 
their  heads  wrapped  in  cloths  of  various  hues  ; 
this  consisted  of  Pa/Mni,  Moors,  Wa^iga, 
Mukknra,  men  of  Delhi,  Malacca,  and  Java, 
Kavisi,  ChinfsB  Parangis,  IlcHanders,  Sa?nKisis, 
^6gi2,  .  English,  French,  Oastilians,  Danes,  men 
from  Surat,  Avo,  and  Pe^u.  representinir  every 
race.  Within  the  great  gate  on  either  side  were 
two  platforms  on  whicli  s^ood  two  palmirahs 
and  two  cannon  made  of  the  five  kinds  of  metals ; 
round  these  rest*  d  a  bard  of  fiiihtintj  men  armed 
with  clubs.  The  palace  gate,  the  hall  in  which 
the  sub-king  and  the  nobles  were  assemblpd,  the 
doors,  windows,  and  bars  were  all  decoraled  in 
great  profusion  ;  the  former  were  crowned  with 
gilt  spires,  flowers,  and  wreaths.  In  the  midst 
of  all  btood  the  king's  palace  of  five  f-tages, 
similarly  adorned  with  gilt  [:pires.  At  tie  four 
corners  were  four  towers  five  st(iries  high,  pierced 
with  many  windows  and  lattice  work.  There 
were  also  many  halls  decorated  with  much  gild- 
ing and  built  in  two  stages.  The  palace  of  the 
prince  and  the  three  palaces  of  the  queens  were 
similar  in  appearance.  The  magnificent  pile  is 
erected  on  the  river  wall,  which  commences  at 
the  river  and  encircles  the  whole  city.  The 
great  gate  is  at  the  landing  place  ;  the  rampart 
starts  from  here  and  runs  to  the  right;  then  it 
sweeps  round  in  a  circle  encompassing  the 
whole  city,  till  it  finally  meets  the  river  again^ 
Within    the    city    there  are  canals  running  in 


(    17   ) 

parallel  Hues  like  the  leaves  of  an  indi  branch. 
It  is  impossible  to  ^ive  any  conception  of  the 
numb:-r  of  boats  and  passengers  on  these.  Who 
will  venture  to  say  in  what  language  the  trafic 
on  the  great  river  can  be  described  ?  There 
were  al^o  nuiuberless  streets  thronged  with 
people,  full  of  shops  displaying  every  kind  of 
mercbundise  including  images  of  gold,  ^'o  far 
I  have  only  attempted  to  describe  the  inner  city 
just  as  I  saw  it. 

As  we  were  directed  to  return  to  our  halting- 
place,  two  cflScer^  accompanied  us  back  first   in    17 
carriages  i;nd  then  in  boats. 

Seven  days  later  on  Friday,  being  full  moon, 
two  officers  cime  and  informed  us  that  the  king 
had  given  orders  for  us  to  qo  and  worship  at 
two  vibiiras  on  thir^  day.  We  acccrdiahly  pro- 
•ceeded  ir  boats  and  worshipped  at  the  vibore 
called  Vat  Putin  Suwan.  The  following  28 
is  a  description  of  the  place.  On  the  right 
of  the  g'reat  river  there  stretches  a  plain 
right  up  to  the  river  bank ;  here  are  built  long 
ranges  of  two  storied  halls  in  the  form  of  a 
square,  with  four  gateways  on  the  four  sides ; 
on  the  four  walls  were  placed  two  hundred  gilt 
images.  Within  the  eastern  gate  is  fashioned 
a  likeness  of  the  sacred  footprint,  with  the 
auspicious  symbol  worked  in  gold.  Right  in 
the  centre  is  a  great  gilt  dagaba  with  four 
gates.  On  entering  by  the  eastern  gate  there 
is  found  a  flight  ot*  stone  steps  gilt ;  right  in 
the  womb  of  the  dagaba  are  enshrined 
the  holy  relics ;  and  it  was  so  built  that 
it  was  possible  to  walk  round  within  the 
dagaba  without  approaching  them.  There  was 
also  within  a  gilt  reproduction  of  the 
3acred  Foot*  -  On  either  side  of  this  gate  were 


(    18   ) 

built  two  fi^c-beaded  NA^ja  Rajas  apparently 
descenJiog  to  the  bank  of  earth.  To  the  north 
of  this  was  a  two-storied  biilding  with  a  throne 
in  the  middle  of  it ;  on  tbia  was  seated  a  g[\t 
fiofure  of  the  Buddha  twelve  cubits  high.  To 
the  east  of  this  and  facing  it  was  a  five-storied 
building  hung^  with  awnings  and  adorned  with 
paintings  and  gilding;  the  pillars  in  the  middle 
were  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  and  on  a  throne 
in  the  centre  was  a  life-size  image  of  gold  sup- 
ported on  either  side  by  two  similar  gilt  images 
of  the  two  chief  disciples  Sarijut  Mahasami  and 
Maha  Mugalan  Siimi  and  numerous  others. 
Above  the  gateway  from  the  roof  to  the  lintel 
there  was  pictured  in  gilt  work  Buddha  in  the 
iSakra  world,  seated  on  the  White  Throne  and 
preaching  his  glorious  Abbidharma  to  the  god 
Mavu  Deva  and  to  the  gods  and  Brahmas  of 
unnumbered  words;  and  again,  when  his  dis- 
course was  ended,  he  is  depicted  as  descending 
bj  t^e  golden  stairs  to  Sakaspura.  The  vihare 
itseli  is  strongly  guarded  by  walls  and  gates ; 
round  about  are  built  pleasant  halls  and  pniests* 
houses  filled  with  the  holy  men,  with  worship- 
pera  of  high  rank  and  devotees  of  either  sex. 

From  ibis  place  we  proceeded  to  worship  at 
the  Palla?ikara  A»ama  Vibare,  the  description 
of  which  is  as  follows: — The  building  is  of 
three  stages  built  on  a  piece  of  level  land  by 
the  bank  of  the  river.  Along  the  four  walls 
were  ranged  various  images  of  the  Buddha  and 
of  Rahats  as  well  as  of  gods  and  Brahmas,  in 
diverse  colours  and  adorned  with  gilding.  In 
the  middle  was  a  glittering  image  of  the 
Buddha  life-size  and  seated  on  a  throne, 
supported  on  either  side  by  images  of  Sariyut 
and  Maha  Mugalan,  all  profusely  adorned  with 
gold.     Facing  this  were  two  two-storied  halls ; 


(   19    ) 

round  about  were  ^ilt  daijabas ,  the  very  ^[ate- 
ways  were  p^ilt,  and  the  place  was  one  labyrinth 
of  preachingr  and  living-halls,  thronged  with 
priests,  pious  men,  and  devotees.  After  wor- 
shipping  here  we  were  taken  back  to  our 
halting  place. 

On  the  twentj-first  day  of  the  solar  month  19 
Kanya,  bains:  Sunday,  three  officers  came  in  the 
morning  and  accompanied  us  in  boats  to  the 
vihare  called  Maha  Dhanvaram}^,  in  the  district  20 
named  Na  pu  than,  that  we  might  make 
offerings  there  to  the  Baddha  and  acquire 
merit,  and  also  see  the  baauties  of  the  place; 
and  this  is  what  we  saw  there.  The  place 
was  a  fertile  stretch  of  level  land  enclosed 
by  four  walls,  outside  which  ran  four  canals. 
From  the  water- course  to  the  east  up  to  the 
gate  there  was  a  long  covered  passage  of  two 
stages.  On  entering  at  the  gateway  we  saw 
on  the  four  sides  eight  holy  dagabas,  so 
covered  with  e^ildins:  that  they  resembled 
masses  of  Hnihiriya  flowers.  In  the  intervals 
were  various  images.  Among  them  at  the  four 
sides  were  four  buildings  of  two  stages  against 
the  inner  walls  of  which,  and  rising  to  the 
roof  were  large  gilt  images  of  the  Buddhaw 
Within  the  space  enclosed  by  these  were  four 
handsome  gilt  dagabas  with  images  inter* 
^pered.  In  the  very  centre  of  all  was  was  a 
dagaba  richly  adorned,  with  doors  on  the  four 
•sides  fitted  with  stairs,  up  and  down  which 
we  could  ascend  and  desceijd.  At  the  four  , 
corners  of  the  square  base  of  the  spire  were 
four  dragons  with  wings  outstretched  anS 
meeting  above ;  in  the  four  panels  were  four 
images  of  gods  adorned  with  all  the  divine  orna- 
ments, as  well  as  images  of  the  gods  ^ho  preside 
at  the  four  points  of  the  compass/'with  their 


(    20   ) 

bands  clasped  overhead.  In  the  inteiv^ls  were 
images  of  door-guardians  armed  with  swords,  of 
lilkshas  with  clubs  and  of  bnrajds  with  staves, 
while  above  the  circular  base  of  the  spire  were 
depicted  in  solid  gold  the  sacred  halo.  On  either 
side  of  the  stair  leading  from  the  eastern  gate 
ran  two  snake?,  their  bodies  the  size  of  palmirab 
p^.lms;  where  thej  reachfd  the  ground  their 
hoods  were  raised  and  renting  on  slabs  of  crystal; 
their  open  jaws  and  projecting  fangs  filled  the 
hearts  of  those  who  saw  them  with  terror. 
Starting  from  here  there  were  ranged  round 
the  dii^aba  images  of  lions,  bears,  swans, 
peacocks,  kinduras,  deer,  oxen,  wolves, 
buffaloes,  makaras,  and  door  guardians 
armed  with  swords.  Also,  carrying  palm 
fan>,  cljiimaras,  sesat,  triumphal  chanks, 
and  various  cfferinj^?,  with  their  hands 
clasped  above  their  heads,  were  numerous 
imnges  of  Brahmas,  Sakras,  and  the  Sujama 
gods,  all  adorned  with  go'd.  In  the  hnl:  to  the 
east,  with  its  eye:  fixed  on  the  dagraba,  was  an 
image  of  the  Buddha  ^iipportfd  on  either  side 
bj  images  of  the  two  great  disciples  with  their 
LaLd-^  clasped  above  their  heads.  Also  there 
was  another  image  of  the  lord  as  he  was  in  life, 
begging  for  food  with  hie  bowl  in  his  sacred 
Land.  In  another  building,  which  was  reached 
bj  a  flight  of  steps,  were  various  images  of  the 
Buddha  and  two  figures  of  the  Sacred  Foot- 
print with  the  auspicious  symbols  in  gold.  In 
a  similar  hi^ll  to  the  west  were  three  images. 
Here  was  depicted  in  gold  our  lord  reposing  in 
lion  fashion  in  his  scented  room,  whilst  Ananda 
Mabasami  is  approaching  holding  in  bis 
right  hand  a  golden  candlestick. 

On  the  four  walls  was   depicted  the   Vessan- 
tara  birth-storj,  and  next  his  birth  in  Thusitft 


(    21    ) 

heavpn.  whoDce  a^ain  he  was  bep^otten  of  KId^ 
SudtlhoJana  in  tb^  womb  of  Queen    Mabaoc^ja 
and  was  brought  forth    into  the    arms  of    god?, 
after  which  he  made    his   Great     Renuneii^ion, 
and  on  his    eleaming    throne  under    the    sacred 
B6  attained  Buddhahood  ;  and,   seated    on    the 
AVhite    Throne    of    Sakra};!^    he    preached  his 
Abhidharma  to    the   gods,    and  after    receiTing 
the    offerings    of    the    gods    and    Brahma<»   be 
descended   bj   the   divine   stair    to  the    SaVja 
citj  ;  — all  this  was  pictured  in  gilt. 

Outside  the    great    wall  of  the    vibare    were 
several  preaching-halls  :  to  the  west  of  this  was 
the     residence  of  the    Sanga  Ri'iji  ;    the    dining^ 
and  preaching-halls    were    adorned    in    diverse 
fashions    with   gilding.     Oae    room    was    Lung 
with    awnings    and    curtains  embroidered    with 
gold  whilst   the  floor    was    covered  with  vaiious 
precious  carpets.     There    were    vases   arranged 
in  rows  filled  with    flowers,   whilst   above    were 
hung  circular  lamps.     On  two  thrones  on  either 
side  were  placed  two  priestly  fanE;    the  hardies 
of  these    were    made   of  elephants'   tusks,   the 
ivory  of  which  was  sawn  very  fine  like  the  leaves 
of  the  kuS'kuis,  and  woven    with    red    velvet  SDd 
thin  strips  of  ^^old  and  silver  like  rushes  to  form 
the  leaf  of  the  fan.     Two  holy  priests  stood  on 
either    side    making    obeisance   to    where   the 
Singa  Raja  was.     behind   a   curtain    curiouslj 
embroidered  with  i^old  was  a  throne    on    which 
the  Sanga  Raja  himself  was  seated.     His    face 
was  screened  by    a    fan    of    golden-hued    bird's 
plumes  which  he  held  in   his    right   hand.     We 
were    led    in   at   his    command   to    make    our 
obeisance  to  him  and  to  acquire   merit.     After 
we  had  made  suitable  offerings  to  him  we   were 
served  with  betel  and  arecanut,  and    were   gra-    21 
ciously  praised  by  him  for  the  faithful  devotion 


(    22    ) 

to  the  Triple  Gem  which  had  brought  us  on 
this  toilsome  but  blessed  voyage  across  the 
dangerous  sea.  He  was  also  pleased  to  say  that 
priests  would  be  seni  to  accompauj  us  back  to 
Lanka. 

Surroundinof  this  spot  were  several  houses 
occupied  bj  a  vast  numb?r  of  priests  and 
S:'imaneras,  devotees  of  either  sex  wfio  observe 
Dasasil,  as  well  as  a  crowd  of  pious  and  courtly 
folk  who  provided  daily  offerings. 

After  all  this  V7e  were  taken  back  to  our 
halting-place  in  the  evening.  Eight  days  later, 
being  Mondav  the  eighth  day  of  the  waning 
moon,  two  officers  came  and  accompanied  us 
to  a  vibare  which  was  full  of  priests'  houses  ; 
here  we  saw  a  building:  of  three  stages  the  tiles 
on  the  roof  of  which  were  gilt  and  appsarfd  as 
a  mass  of  hinihiriya  flowers.  In  front  of  this 
were  two  golden  djigahas ;  having  made  our 
obeisance  to  the&e,  we  rested  a  short  time  in  a 
hall  hpre,  after  which  we  werf»  invited  to  a  two- 
storied  hall  where  we  weie  received  with  every 
mark  of  respect  by  the  second  tut-king  and 
several  Ministers  of  State  and  were  entertained 
with  our  attendants  at  a  feast  and  subsfquently 
with  betel  and  arecanut.  Then  several  dancers 
in  various  gold-worked  costumes  were  brought 
in  to  sing  and  dance  before  us,  after  which  we 
were  taken  back  to  our  resting  place. 

On  the  mornint?  of  the  next  day  two  officerg 
came  from  the  palace  and  touk  us  on  horseback 
to  the  town  ;  we  arrived  at  a  street  one  side 
of  which  was  occupied  by  two  storied  buildings 
and  variously  gilt  elephant  stalls  ;  on  the  other 
side  were  similar  horse  stables.  It  is  impossible 
to  give  the   number   of   horses   and   elephants. 


(    23    ) 

male  and  female,  that  were  here;  the  street  was 
entirely  occupied  by  tbe  stables  and  stalls,  and 
there  was  no  dwelliDg-bou^e  at  all  ;  we  rested 
in  a  hall  on  the  side  where  the  ht  r&e  stables 
were. 

As  the  Was  season  was  now  drawing  to  a 
close  a  Chivara  Katina  Fuja  had  been  ordered  03 
by  the  king:  for  this  day  at  the  great  vihiir^ 
of  Kojayoth  Ratr.'i  a'na.  In  this  vil.are  are 
multitudes  of  gilt  imajjes  of  the  Buddha  and  a  o^ 
host  of  priests  and  Samarera*^.  We  saw  the 
procession,  and  this  was  the  manner  of  it  :— 

First   there   came,    mounted  on   caparisoned 
elephant?,  a  body   of    men     with    gaily-T7orked 
flags,  richly  dressed  with  Siamese  hats  of  white 
resemblinir  silver  KaraiaZuwas  on    their  heads, 
and    swords    by    their    s'des  ;    a    similar    band 
mounted    on     horses     followed  ;  next   came    in 
succession  a  host  with  swords  in  gilt  scabbards: 
another    »vith     eilt    bows,    their  quivers  tluog 
over  their  necks  ;  anc  tber  s'milarly  armed,  with 
guns  on  their  shoulders  and     powder    pouctej 
at  their  sides  ;  anotl  er    b.ind    similarly  dressed 
witli  various  kinds  (^f  arms  ;  then  a  band  cairy- 
iu^  dJiojas  3.udi  patdkas  on  ^\\i    staves;    a    band 
of  powerful   men  with  tjilt  clubs  ;  another  with 
swords    in   scabbards    woiked    with    silver ;  an- 
other with  swords  ;  a  similar  band  with    instra- 
ments  of  muiic — trumpets,    horns,    fifes,  lutes, 
drums   lar^^e  and    small,    all    playing  to;j(Biher. 
AI:ng  with  these  were  two    richly    capa  uoned 
elephants    with    cLimaras     hung   b-hind    tneir 
ears  andbowd.hs  on  their  backs;  wiihiu  each 
was  a  Minister  of  State  seated,   huirting   in    his 
two  hands  a  gold  salver  on  which  were   placed 
robes  of  the  finest  yellow     silii:    above     were 
held  worked    fl«g?,    sesat,    and  spear^j,  two     of 


(    24   ) 

each,  while  on  the  two  sides  walked  two 
fema'e  flephants  carryinor  three  men  each. 
The  officer  who  came  next  in  similar  fashion 
carried  the  priestly  necepsaries  on  a  q;old  salver. 
A  num\:er  of  beautiful  bojs  followed  on  a 
she-slephant  covered  with  gold-worked  cloths  ; 
these  carried  the  ^ilt  swords,  betel  trays, 
chains,  pendants,  and  goH  bracelets  of  these^ 
two  officers. 

Next  came  a  large  crowd  on  foot  armed 
with  swords  and  the  five  kinds  of  weapons 
carrying  flags  and  umbrellas,  followed  by  a 
tusked  elephant  almost  hidden  under  its  gilt 
trappings,  the  gaps  being  covered  with  button 
flowers,  marigolds,  dxinuke  wetake,  sajtu,  the 
25  white  and  red  lotus,  and  water  lilies,  carrying 
in  its  howdah  a  Minister  of  State  who  bore  a 
set  of  robes  and  the  priestly  necessaries ;  on 
either  side  rode  two  officers  accompanied  by 
seven  men  carrying  sesat  spears  and  flags.  The 
minister's  a'tendanr  boys,  variously  dressed, 
followed  carrying  his  8word  and  spear  and 
other  ornaments.  After  that  another  throng 
as  before. 

[The  writer  n^-xt  proceeds  to  describe  five 
other  ministeis  who  followed  in  similar  state] 

Next,  walking  four  abreast  and  carryins: 
gold-worked  flags,  came  a  band  of  men  hold- 
iner  four  strings  so  that  their  order  might  not 
be  disturbed.  Then  came  a  row  of  elephants 
with  and  without  tusks,  male  and  female,  with 
trappings  of  unheard-of  splendour,  carrying 
sets  of  robes  and  the  priestly  necessaries  and 
all  manner  of  cffering^s.  Next  came  two  great 
Officers  of  State  employed  in  the  inner  palace, 
with  the  Master  of  the  Chariots,  the  Custodian 


(   25   ) 

of  the  Swcrd  of  State,  two  Keepers  of  the 
Crown  Jewels,  two  Officers  of  the  R^yal  Eetel 
Boi,  the  two  Chief  Officers  of  the  Treasurj, 
two  Admirals  of  the  Great  Bfmts,  two  Masters 
•f  the  Horse,  two  of  the  King's  Physicians, 
two  Officers  who  were  in  el  arge,  the  one  of 
the  stores  of  copper,  brass,  tin,  timber,  horns, 
irorj,  white  and  red  sandahvnc  d,  of  the  villages 
which  p-oduce  them,  and  <  f  ihe  men  employed 
in  their  service,  the  other  of  the  loyul  rice  and 
betel  villare?,  and  of  th  ir  tenant?, — all  these 
came  on  elephants  holding  with  both  hacd^  on 
golden  trays  their  (ffeings  of  robes  and  other 
necessa»ies  as  described  before,  each  accom- 
panied by  his  vasials.  Bahind  came  a  host  of 
hundreds  and  th  usanJs  of  devotee?,  male  and 
female,  carrying  on  their  heads  robes  and 
offering:?.  Next  came  the  two  second  /  nu- 
Eiijas,  carried  on  the  nec\s  of  stalwart  men  in 
two  couch-t-haped  thrones  with  a  railing  of 
irory,  adorned  with  gold  and  rows  of  perls, 
and  set  with  mas:ni6c9nt  orems ;  above  their 
heads  w^re  carriel  ten  i»esat,  and  tley  were 
followed  by  a  hobt  armed  with  the  five  kir  ds  of 
weapon*^.  N»xt,  in  the  fi^^t  of  two  similarly 
adorned  thrones,  was  borne  on  the  shoulders 
of  stout  warriors  the  Great  Officer  of  State  to 
whose  hands  are  entrusted  all  the  affairs  of 
Siam,  and  who  is  called  the  Uva  Rr<jjurux6.  23 
Above  him  were  carried  five  sesat,  and  behind 
him  was  a  band  with  umbrellas  and  swords. 
In  the  second  throne  WiS  tbe  second  sub-king 
carried  in  similar  state.  Next  came  the  great 
StHte  E'ephant  ;  the  whole  of  its  body  was  the 
colour  uf  copper,  arid  it  was  covered  with  full 
trappinors  of  gold ;  on  each  side  of  it  were 
carried  four  sesat  and  four  fl^gs  ;  ei^ht  trays  of 
gold  tilled  with  peeled  tugar  lar.e,  ripe  jak, 
and  plantains   were   carried   for  its   food ;   its 


(   26   ) 

ittendants — elephants  with  and  without  tusks, 
male  and  female — followed ;  on  them  rode 
men  carryinp:  flags.  A  ^ast  number  of  offering's 
to  the  Buddha  were  presented  to  the  priests 
with  the  robes  and  priestlj  necessaries.  The 
Siamese  officers  told  us  that  by  the  rojal  com- 
mand we  too  were  to  share  in  the  merit  acquired 
bj  this  great  Ka/hina  Pinkama,  and  of  all  the 
other  religious  seryices  which  his  illustrious 
majesty  had  ordained  in  his  great  devotion  to 
the  Triple  Gem. 

After  this  we  were  taken  back  to  our 
halting-place. 

This  dPRcription  is  taken  from  the  account 
giv^n  by  Siddamparam  Chetty,  who  was  at- 
tached to  U3  as  interpreter,  and  who  knew  the 
details  well  :  a  considerable  portion,  both  of 
what  he  related  to  us  and  what  we  personally 
saw,  has  been  omittpd  to  avoid  the  risk  of 
appearing  to  relate  the  incredible. 

On  the  night  of  Tuesday,  about  fourteen 
hours  before  dawn,  two  noblemen  came  from 
the  palace  and  informed  us  that  h  rpligious 
27  torch  procession  was  coming  down  the  river  for 
us  to  see ;  and  this  is  the  description  of  the 
same.  Tall  bamboos  were  set  up  at  the  vibaras 
on  either  bank  of  the  river  of  Siam  ;  these 
^'^ere  bent  down,  and  on  them  were  bung  gilt 
f  rcular  lampsjand  lamps  of  various  other  kinds. 
The  king  himself,  his  son  the  prince,  the  second 
king,  and  the  Uva  Rajjuruvo  came  in  the  gilt 
royal  barge?,  on  which  were  erected  alcoves  with 
curtains  and  awningR  of  various  coloured  cloths ; 
these  boats  were  fitted  witli  gold  and  silver 
stands  holding  lighted  candles  of  wax  and 
sweet-scented  oils;  a  host  of  noblemen  followed 


(    27   ) 

ID  similarly  illuminated  boats.  There  were  also 
lamps  made  of  red  and  white  paper  shaped  like 
lotus  flowers,  with  wax  candles  fixed  in  their 
cup3 ;  myriads  of  these  beyond  all  counting 
were  floating  down  the  river.  Fireworks  of 
Tarious  devicea  were  also  cast  into  the  water ; 
these  would  travel  underneath  for  some  time 
and  then  burst  into  tongues  of  flame  in  all 
directions,  with  an  explosion  as  of  a  jingal ; 
the  whole  surface  of  the  water  appeared  paved 
with  fire.  There  were  also  dancers  in  gilt, 
clothes  in  boats,  singing  and  dancing  to  the 
music  of  drums. 

Next,  the  priests  residing  within  the  city  and 
in  the  vibaras  on  either  bank  of  the  river  were 
presented  with  offeringfs,  with  robes,  and  the 
priestly  necessaries,  the  boats  which  carried 
them  forming  an  unbroken  procession. 

Thi«  solemnity  was  observed  on  the  thirteenth 
day  of  the  increasing  moon  of  the  month 
Binara,  on  the  full-moon  day,  on  the  first, 
seventh,  and  eighth  days  of  the  waning  moon, 
and  on  the  new  moon,  when  the  Was  season 
come  to  a  close.  It  was  explained  to  us  that 
this  festival  has  been  observed  from  time 
immemorial  by  the  piou^  sovereigns  of  Aj6ih- 
yapura  year  after  year  in  honour  of  the  sacred 
footprint,  the  relics  of  the  Buddha,  and  of  that 
other  footprint  which  at  the  prayer  of  the 
Naga  king  the  Lord  had  in  his  lifetime  im- 
printed on  the  sands  of  the  river  Nerbudda. 
On  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday  two  oflicers 
brought  us  in  boats  everything  that  was  re- 
quired for  a  &imilar  offering,  with  a  message 
from  the  king  that  we  too  should  celebrate  suck 
an  offering  with  our  own  hands.  We  ac- 
cordingly went  with  them  and  lit  lamps  which 


(   28   ) 

were  floated  down  the  stream,  and  lurnt  fire- 
works ;  similar  ceremonies  were  performed  bj' 
U3  the  following  Thursday  and  Friday. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  the  solar  month  Thula, 
being  Wednesday,  in  the  morning,  two  officera 
came  and  accompanied  u^  in  boats  to  near  the 
the  palace  of  the  Uva  Rajjuruio.  Theie,  in  si 
two-staged  octagonal  hall  hung  with  cloths  of 
diverse  kinds,  amonr  gorgeous  gold  worked 
carpets  stretched  (n  the  floor,  was  the  sub-king 
himself  seated  on  a  marvellously  wrought  royal 
throne.  Beautifully  engraved  swords  of  solid 
gold,  trays  and  boxes  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
various  royal  ornaments  were  placed  on  either 
side  ;  there  was  a  golden  curtain  drawn,  and  oh 
this  side  of  it  the  great  ministrrs  werft  ou  their 
knees  making  obaisance  Here  we  were  ushered 
in  and  introduced;  the  sub-kin  '  icqu'red  after 
our  welfarp,  and  betf^l  was  handt  d  round  on  trays. 
We  were  then  shown  some  books  that  were  not 
to  be  found  in  L^nhii  at  the  time  ;  we  gazed  at 
the«n  in  reverence,  bowinir  our  heats  bcfore^ 
the  holy  paper,  and  nere  graciously  informed 
that  these  books  and  the  priests  would  be  givea 
to  u«.  Next  a  groat  feast  of  rice  was  serred. 
for  us  and  our  attendants  after  which  w# 
received  permission  to  withdraw,       .  - 

28  '  On  the  eleventh  day  of  the  solar  month 
Thula,  being  Sunday,  three  oflBcers  came  from 
the  palace  in  the  morning  and  informed  us  that 
they  had  received  orders    to    accompany    us    to 

29  worship  the  Sacred  Footprint  at  the  sp.t  knowa 
as  Swarna  Pancha^ha  Maha  Pahath.  We  ac- 
cordingly procceeded  up  the  river  in  boats^ 
admirinnr  tbe  various  vi!aras,  gilt  dagabas, 
priests  housep,  villages,  fields,  gardens  of  jak^ 
cocoanut,  arecinuts,  sug^r-cane,   and    plantaia 


(   29    ) 

situated  op  either  bank  ;  we  trave'led  a  whole* 
daj  and    night,    and   at   dawn   on    Mondaj  we 
mounted  on  some    she-elephaots  carrying   gilt 
howdabs  and  proceeded    accomp^ni»^d    bj    our 
attendants  similarly  mounted.     By  evening  we 
arrived  within  si^ht  of  the  pinnacl-*  of  the  gilt 
daT'aba  erected  on    thia    pacred    site,  when  we 
hastened     down      from     our      elephants      and 
proceeded  two    miles     on    foot,    resting    in    a    30 
hermit's    cell    in     the    neighbourhood    of   this 
augu-t  spot.     The  next  day  being  'I  u^sday,  the 
eigrhth  day  of  the  lunar  month,  we  offered  wor- 
ship at   the    holy    shrine.     The  following    is   a 
description    of    the  same: — From    the   r  ver  of 
Siam  to  thia  place    was    a    contir  uoua    line   of 
Tihii "as,  halls,  villagep,  fi^lda    and    gardens;    at 
intervals  were  large  parks  adorned    with    tanks 
and  lakes  and  with   shady  grove?   of   mangoes; 
among  these  could  be  procured  food  and    drink 
and  8W  Pt  things  to  help    the  traveller   on   his 
way.     Where  the  road  came  to  an  end  a  great 
range  of  mountains  rose  on  the  right;  this  was  31 
formed  by  S^ichcha  Handle na  Parvata   and    the 
caves  where  the  hermits  li  es  ;  at    their    prayer 
the  Sacred  Foot  had    been    imprinted   as    if    it 
were    in    a    mass    of   soft   clay   to  the  depth  of 
about  four  inches  right  up  to  the  «nkle,  showing 
the  216  auspicious  signs,  with  the  6ve  toes  sepa- 
rately marked.     Enclosing  this  t.»  the  breadtb 
ot    about    a   span    were    three    rows   of    petals 
of  pure  rold,  the   inner    rim   set  with    priceless 
gems,    the   whole    being    covered     with    seven 
curtains  curiously  worked    with    gold.     In    the 
middle  of  the  square  structure  w^re  f-tone  ^teps 
faciU'T  in  every  direction,  and  covered  over  with 
plates  of  silver  to  that  th3  joining  could  not  be 
seen.     Above  the  pacred  footstep  and   made   of 
solid  gold  was  a  pagoda  supported   on    suitable 
pillars,  forming  a  shrine.     At  the  four   corners 


(    30    ) 

were  placfd  four  jjo^^^^n  st'^iif,  aud  from  above 
hun;z  four  bunches  of  precious  stones  like 
bunches  of  ripe  arecaouts  in  siz?.  Go  the  edge 
of  the  roof  lunsr  ropes  of  pearls,  and  on  tho 
point  of  the  spire  was  set  a  sapphire  the  size  of 
a  lime  fruit.  Within  and  overshadowinor  the 
footprint  like  a  cnnopy,  there  hungr  from  the 
middle  of  the  «:pire  a  ful'-blo  vn  lous  <  f  gold, 
in  the  middle  of  \Nhich  was  sf^t  a  ruby  of  similar 
siz'*.  Chariots,  ship?,  el^phints,  and  horses 
with  their  riders,  all  made  of  j;old,  and  of  a 
suitable  s'z^^,  where  placed  on  a  golden  support 
■jibove  the  silver  pavement.  This  was  ^lung  on 
wires  of  i^old,  to  which  were  attached  ornaments 
set  with  pearls  the  s'ze  of  the  nelli  fiuit,  as  well 
f  s  other  jewelled  ornaments,  rinors  and  chains. 
By  some  skilful  device  all  this  could  be  moved 
along:  the  silver  pavement.  There  were  rows 
of  vas°s  with  lotus,  water-li'ies,  sa^ff,  dunuke, 
{(Ida,  f<oakendaf  and  jasmine  flowers,  as  well  as 
flowHrino^  plants.  Above  this  shrine,  which 
rivalled  in  its  bh  z»  of  splendour  the  abode  of 
the  ^od*,  and  four^quare  with  it,  was  a  struc- 
ture of  Hl*-v<^n  stages.  Its  pavemen*:  was  of 
silver,  while  the  four  walls  were  adorned  with 
^ildin^  and  various  paintir.or?  •  the  ceiling  was 
also  ^ilt,  and  above  the  shrinn  and  at  the  four 
corners  were  hung  up  five  large  gilt  sesaL  la 
the  intervals  were  large  full  blown  lotus  flowers 
with  sapphires,  the  ^ize  of  lime  fiuits,  set  in 
their  hearts.  From  the  corners  hung  a  network 
of  pearls,  while  five  bunches  of  various  gems 
the  ^ize  of  large  ripe  a»-pcanuts  bung  at  the 
corners  and  the  middle.  Within,  against  the 
western  wall,  was  rait^ed  a  large  gilt  throne  ,on 
which  rested  a  gilt  facsimile  of  the  sacred  foot- 
print. Two  doorvS  fdc  d  the  south  and  north; 
the  doors  and  the  doorposts  were  covered  over 
with  plates  of  gold  ;  the  former  were  in  pantl<<ij 


(     31    ) 

the  first  adciK^d  wit^  the  fiorure  of  a  Bramah 
carrjingr  a  .^esat,  the  sec-^nd  of  a  Sukiaja 
blowing  a  conch,  the  thiid  of  a  Sujam  dp«*^y 
with  a  cbiimara,  the  fourth  of  a  Santhusita  god 
with  a  jewelled  fun, — all  with  their  bands 
clasped  above  their  heads  in  adoration.  Above 
the  door  were  hung  two  golden  curtaine. 

At  intervals  on  the  outer  face  of  the  walls 
were  square  openings  set  with  glass,  in  which 
were  arranged  figures  of  lions,  bears,  elephants, 
horses,  cattle,  inakaravas,  dragons,  bwans, 
serpents,  and  kinJuras,  &c.,  pUited  with  gold. 
The  columns  of  the  verandah  outside  arid  the 
tiles  on  the  roof  were  gilt,  and  the  floor  covered 
with  sheets  of  white  lead.  The  various  stages 
were  separated  by  by  short  walls  supported  nt 
the  corners  by  figures  of  the  Sataravaran  deities 
armed  with  swords,  while  those  of  other  gods 
and  Brahmas  carrying  ( fferings  and  the  five 
kind<*  of  lotus  occupied  the  gaps.  The  Spires 
terminating'  the  roof  were  adorned  with  gilt 
five-headed  onake-  and  dragons  plated  with  gold 
lifting  up  their  i^reat  hoods  on  higb,  while 
alouu'  the  edges  of  the  rocf  heads  of  snakes  and 
dragons  plated  with  gold  were  arranged  alter- 
nately ;  in  thp  intervals  vvere  figures  of  swans, 
peacocKs,  panots,  dove?,  pigeons,  and  other 
birds,  all  gilt  and  carrying  lotus  flowers  in  their 
beaks,  in  such  profusion  a*  almost  to  hide  the 
gilt  tiles.  On  ihe  walls  were  also  gilt  images  of 
kinduras  and  tagas  blowing  horn?. 

All  the  eleven  stages  were  similarly  gilt,  and 
on  th^  extreme  point  of  the  central  spire  was 
Mxed  a  gem  the  size  of  an  orange.  The  wall  32 
surrounding  this  was  of  various  kind  of 
alabaster  ;  at  the  four  corners  and  at  the  sides 
of  the  four  gates  were  fixed  twelve  large  lamps 


(    32    ) 

of  alabaster  shaped  like  kara^if/uwas,  «vliile  380 
smaller  ones  adorned  the  walls.  There  were 
also  fixed  round  about  figures  of  elephants, 
horses,  lions,  bears,  crocodiles,  snakes,  makaras, 
and  deer,  all  of  the  same  material  and  in  due 
proportion  :  these  served  a<*  lamp^  the  ligrhts 
being  placed  inside  them.  There  were  also  here 
and  there  fie:nre8  of  yaksha^,  la'^shas,  and 
bhairaj« ',  serving  as  door-guardians  at  the 
eight  points. 

Lower  down  the  mountain  was  a  cave,  in 
which  was  a  gilt  image  of  the  Sichcha  Bind, 
hana  hermit.  Close  bj  the  fi^ht  of  stone  steps 
on  the  north  side  stood  two  large  stone  pillars 
on  which  were  fixed  stout  iron  rods;  to  these 
were  secured  a  pole  of  the  size  of  a  large 
arecanut  tree  cased  in  copper  and  yilt,  support- 
ing an  umbrella  also  of  copper  gilt.  At  the 
north  and  south  gates  down  either  side  the 
stone  steps  ran  two  snakes  with  bodies  like 
largR  palmirah  trees  made  of  white  lead  ;  where 
they  reached  the  ground  their  huge  five -fold 
hoods  made  of  bronze  are  raised  aloit  with  such 
a  fierce  aspect  as  would  s  trike  terror  in  anj 
beholder. 

Encircling  this  spot  and  outside  the  walla 
there  was  a  large  number  of  sesat  of  various 
coloured  cloths;  lower  down  and  towards  the 
rising  sun  was  a  pilt  ('a^^aba  with  relica  of 
the  Buddha;  on  its  spie  was  designed  in  gilt 
the  six-huea  halo  of  the  lord  blazing  forth. 
To  the  west,  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  whtre 
ha  had  alighted  from  the  skj,  was  another 
similar  da^aba  ;  around  it  were  several  images 
as  well  as  B.j^oija-ge,  a  preaching-hall,  a  life-^^'zad 
statue  of  the  Buddha,  two  viharas  containing 
mauj   images,  ani  a  large  dining-hall  on    the 


(    38   ) 

walls  of  which  were  illustrated  incidents  at  the 
impressing  of  the  Sacred  Foot.  There  was  also 
a  tank  of  lead  filled  with  cool  svater.  Lower 
down  again  in  a  larp^e  cave  to  the  j-outh-east 
were  three  more  gilt  d*j;abas. 

Such  was  this  marvellous  place;  none  but 
the  architect  of  the  ^cds  himself  could  have 
designed  it. 

There  were  two  gates,  carefully  secured  with 
keys  and  bolts  and  watched  hj  guards  who 
were  appointed  according  to  the  various 
watches.  Here  and  there  among  the  caves 
were  seats  fashioned  for  meditation ;  on  all 
sides  were  priests  houses  of  two  and  three 
stages,  adorned  with  gilding;  these  were 
crowded  with  holy  pripsts  and  b'araaneras,  and 
pious  devotees  of  either  sex,  while  numerous 
tanks  and  wells  of  cool  water  adorned  the  spot. 

After  performing  our  religious  exercises  at 
this  holy  place  on  tbo  morning  of  Tuesday, 
which  was  the  fir!?t  quarter  of  the  moon,  the 
Siamese  officers  informed  us  that  th«re  were 
several  other  sites  to  be  visited,  and  accom- 
panied us  a  distance  of  about  IJ  gavvas ;  here 
we  worshipped  at  the  innumerable  images  we 
found  at  the  viharas  and  caves.  One  of  the 
latter  wound  about  in  three  directions  and  con- 
tained many  images;  but  the  darkness  was  so 
intense  that  we  were  obliged  tc  conduct  our 
worship  by  torchlight.  The  caves  and  vihiras 
here  were  to  be  counted  by  the  thousand  ;  gilt 
dagabas  crowned  the  summits  of  the  mountains; 
at  all  these  we  worshipped  and  did  our 
obeisance  to  the  holy  priests  who  had  retired 
to  live  among  them.  Wherever  we  turned,  at 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  on  every  level  rock 


(  ^^  ) 

and  cave,  there  appeared   a  gilt  (?i^aba  or  an 
image,  and  towards  all  these  we  worshipped. 

Round  about  were  streams  and  mountain 
torrents  of  cool  water  and  tanks  and  lakes 
with  the  banks  carefully  built  up  with  stone 
and  mortar  ;  araonpf  these  we  wandered,  resting 
in  delight  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  loftj  trees, 
till  we  had  made  a  circuit  of  this  holj  spot. 
We  celebrated  worship  ajjain  this  night  and 
listened  in  the  preachin:^-hall  to  a  learned 
priest  well  versed  in  the  Dharma,  who  dis- 
coursed from  the  commentaries  on  the  lives 
of  the  great  difciples  of  the  Lord.  The  next 
day  we  worshipped  asrain  b.ith  morning  and 
evening,  -■  nd  also  again  on  Friday  morning, 
after  which  we  bid  farewell  to  the  Great  High 
Priests  and  the  other  priests  who  abode  here, 
S3  and  imrcoa'ately  b^gan  the  descerit^  accom- 
panied hj  ihc  Siamese  officers  ;  when  we  had 
left  the  ^/.ored  precincts  1  ehiud  we  mounted 
our  elephr.nt '  and  proceeded  till  we  reached  tht 
river,  wbei')  "^o  joinod  the  boats.  We  Iravelled 
all  tijron>;h  ^'mq  inght,  and  ab)ut  eight  peyai 
before  dawn  on  Saturday  we  reached  our 
halting-place. 

On  i\Jonday  morning  three  officers  took  us  in 
boats  up  the  river  till  we  came  to  a  vast  stretch 
of  fields.  Here  in  innumerable  running  streamt 
of  cool  water  were  growing  the  five  kinds  of 
lotus, — emhulf  upul,  olu,  nelun,  and  maha  net; 
encircled  by  these  were  three  or  four  thousand 
amunams  of  field  and  gardens,  among  which 
we  wandered  till  sunset.  The  grain  was  in 
every  stage:  the  young  shoot,  the  ripening^ 
ear,  the  flower,  the  tender  corn,  and  some 
already  mown.  At  last,  when  we  had  reached 
one  of  its  boundaries,  we  were  told  in   reply  to 


(   35    ) 

our  inquirea  that  this  stretch  of  fields  extended 
as  far  as  the  city  of  Ava.  We  then  made  our 
vray  by  a  crosa  road  across  the  fields  to  the  rirer 
and  rowed  over  to  the  western  bank. 

Thirteen  fathoms  further  on  was  a  spot 
where  long  ago  a  series  of  the  kings  of  Siaoi 
had  erected  a  three-storied  temple  with  a  erreat 
throne  on  which  was  placed  a  recumbent  statue 
of  the  Buddha,  with  relics  as  well  as  a  standing 
figure;  but  the  river  had  burst  the  pmbank- 
ments,  and  the  flaod-water  had  reached  within 
two  f  ithoms  of  the  temple  gate. 

And  go  it  camp  to  pass  that  when  his  present 
maj'^sty  visited  the  spot  in  the  twenty-fifth 
year  of  his  anointing  as  king,  he  was  greatly 
distressed,  and  exerting  his  royal  zeal  he  had 
the  image  safelv  carried  by  his  strong  men  with 
the  help  of  variou-?  engines  .1  distance  of  80 
fathoms  to  a  spot  where  lie  Lad  erected 
a  new  resting-place  for  its  repose;  over 
this  he  also  built  a  temple  oi'  three  stages, 
which  was  adorned  with  giMIng,  and  from 
the  gate  to  the  river  over  the  80 
fathoms  that  the  image  had  been  carried  he 
erected  a  covered  passage  of  one  stage  ;  he  also 
built  a  preaching-hall  and  a  new  vihare,  and  set 
up  various  other  images,  after  which  he  cele- 
brated a  great  pinkama  :  all  this  was  told  ua 
by  the  Sianaese  officers, 

*  After  worshiping  at  this  place  and  paying 
our  respects  to  the  priests  we  started  down  the 
river,  admiring  the  numerous  viharas  and 
priests  houses  on  either  bank  and  the  villages 
with  their  teeming  population,  arriving  at  our 
'I'esting-place  in  the  evening. ' 


(    36    ) 

On  TueBdaj'evenine:  three  officers  came  from 
the  palace  with  a  large  supply  of  robes  and 
pri-  -tiy  necessaries,  and  informed  ua  that  his 
niF.j  »tj  was  most  favourably  disposed  towards 
us  and.  in  order  that  he  too  might  share  in  the 
merit  which  we  had  acquired  by  our  pilgrimage 
to  the  Sicred  Footstep,  had  ordered  a  quantity  of 
the  coins  c.illed  Ticcal  to  be  distributed  among 
us;  he  also  sent  us  much  eatables  and  drink- 
ables, with  fruit,  betel,  and  arecanut,  lime,  Ac. 
We  wpre  directed  to  cffer  the  robes  ourselves  to 
the  priests  and  so  acqnir^^  merit.  Accordingly 
we  proceeded  in  boats  to  the  vihire  called 
Wat  Nun  Ok,  and  worshipped  the  golden 
Buddhas  there,  and  off-red  the  robes  to  the 
Chief  Priest  and  three  others  who  resided  here, 
and  acquired  merit  by  making  our  obeisance  to 
them,  and  afterwards  returned  home. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  the  month  Tula, 
being  Thursday,  two  officers  came  in  the 
morning  and  proceeded  with  us  in  boats  till  we 
reached  the  street,  where  we  entered  horse 
carriages.  We  alighted  when  we  approached 
the  palace  and  waited  in  a  mandajpd  till  our 
arrival  was  announced,  after  which  we  were  led 
to  the  hall  of  the  sub  king.  Here  we  were 
received  by  the  king,  I  he  prince,  and  the 
sub-king,  with  the  greatest  kindness,  and 
presents,  were  also  bestowed  on  up,  the 
Arachchies,  and  our  attendants  and  we  were 
shown  the  present-^  destined  for  Lanka;  we 
were  also  informed  we  would  receive  permis- 
sion  in  a  few  days  to  start  home,  after  which 
we  returned  accompanied  by  the  officers. 

On  Monday,  the  fourth  day  of  the  solar 
month  Vrishchika,  two  officers  came  and  accom- 
panied us  in  boats  to   the   great   yihar^   called 


!-] 


(   87   ) 

Talaramw,  which  is  built  on  the  bank  of  the- 
river.  Here  we  worshipped  before  the  tjolden 
imag;e  of  the  Buddha  aud  the  dai^aban,  and 
made  offerings  of  robes  and  the  priestly 
necessaries  to  the  priests  who  had  been 
appointed  to  proceed  to  Cejlon.  These  were 
Upali  Mahii  Najaka,  Tliero,  Arva  lv;uni  Maha. 
Navaka  Th^io,  the  Anu  Mril  a  The  6  the  Maba 
Th^.oj  who  read  the  Knn>n»avncha  and  who 
prepare  for  ordination,  nnd  »^m  M-^ba  TLotoj 
Indrajozassa,  Chandra  Jo  a-^  a,  Kc)tthi^a,Kiyavu, 
Bojuna,  Tbuluvan,  'IJ  on-uv  nnana,  Janna, 
Prakjavuthan,  Lokon,  D^  ut,  Pr»-ni^lc,  Premi, 
Kruvdkya,  bein^  twenty-one  1  be  "s  and  eight 
Sama»  eras.  After  this  we  were  tiken  back  to 
our  halting-place. 

On    the   morninof   of  Thurpday    two  officers 
came  and  took  us   to    the    palace.     We   halted 
for  a  ?hort  time  at  a  maudafe  while  our  arrival 
was    being  announced,    after    which    we    were 
presented  and  received  with  great  kindness    by 
his  majesty  the  king,  the  prince,  and  the  sub- 
king  ;    we    were    informed    that    the    presents 
destined  for   Ceylon    would  be   ready  to  start  • 
in  a  short  time  and  then  were  given  permission  » 
to   withdraw,    when    we   returned  again  to  the 
same  macdape  for  a  short   interval.     And    this 
was   the    manner   of  our  departure   therefrom. 
From  the  palace  gate  and  as  far  as  the  landing-- 
place  at   the   river   bank   the  two  sides  of  the  • 
street  were  decorated  with    cloths   embroidered 
with  gold,  various    scented  flowers   and   fruits, 
and    examples    of    the   painter's   skill.     Next,  • 
heralded  by  the  five  kinds  of   music,   came  the 
rojal  message -carried  in  a  gold  litter  on    either 
side   of   which  were  held  gold-worked  sSsat  and  « 
flags.     A  new  golden  image   of   Buddba   came  » 
next;  borne  in  like  fashion  and  accompanied  bj^' 


(   88    ) 

itesat,  cha'marai^,  gold-worked  fl^g^s,  and  music. 
The  flacred  books  and  various  offerings  followed, 
guarded  on  either  aide  by  a  band  of  warriors 
armed  with  the  five  kinds  of  weapons.  CTpali 
Mahil  Th(To  came  next,  carried  in  a  palanquin 
curiously  worked  with  gold,  and  followed  by 
many  offerincjs  ;  next  was  Arya  Muni  Mabsi 
Thero  in  similar  state.  These  two  were  accom- 
panied by  the  other  Tbcroj  and  Samaneras 
destined  for  LmVu,  all  of  whom  had  been  pre- 
sented with  various  gifts  ;  a  band  of  warriors 
followed  them  preceding  the  presents  that  were 
to  be  sent  to  La?ili;i  which  were  conveyed  in 
gilt  chests.  Three  officers  bad  been  appointed 
to  proceed  to  La^ik:!  as  ambassadors,  and 
numerous  honours  had  been  conferred  on  them. 
Two  of  them  came  next  in  two  litters  shaped 
like  beds  and  richly  adorned  with  ornaments  of 
solid  gold.  These  were  carried  on  the  shoulders 
of  men,  while  the  third  rode  behind  on  a  richly 
caparisoned  horse.  We  who  had  been  gazing 
at  this  rare  sight  with  delight,  were  now 
directed  to  enter  the  horse  carriages  in  which 
we  joined  the  procession.  The  gorgeous  decora- 
tions on  either  side  of  the  road,  the  vibaras  and 
crowds  of  priests,  the  masses  of  men,  women, 
and  children  gay  in  jewels  and  gold,  who 
thronged  to  gaza  at  us,  cannot  be  described  in 
words.  We  proceeded  thus  as  far  as  the  river, 
lost  in  admiration  at  the  splendour  of  the 
crowded  street.  Here  we  found  awaiting  us  the 
royal  barges,  decked  with  the  heads  of  lions, 
bears,  elephants,  kinduras,  makaras,  crocodiles, 
serpants  buffaloes,  deer,  peacocks,  parrots, 
pigeonp,  dragons,  and  rilkshas  ;  whilst  in  the  in- 
tervals were  carved  treep,  creepers,  and  plants, 
all  gilt.  On  their  decks  were  constructed  booths 
of  gold-worked  cloths  gaily  adorned,  and  similar 
curtains  were  hung  around,  while  various,  flags 


(    39   ) 

and  umbrellas  were  fixed  at  stem  and  stern. 
On  board  these  barges  were  conveyed  the 
image  and  books  and  rojal  message  as  well  as 
the  priests.  The  king,  the  royal  queens,  the 
sub  king,  the  princes,  as  well  as  the  nobles 
with  their  wives,  accompanied  us  in  similar 
boats;  after  them  came  a  host  of  devotees  of 
either  sex  and  of  citizens  in  boats  in  an  un- 
broken stream,  the  boats  being  secured  in  rows- 
by  cables  so  as  to  move  in  line-  In  various 
boats  dancing  and  singing  were  going  on,  while 
numerous  drums  kept  up  a  continuous  volume 
of  sound.  Thus  we  proceeded  down  the  river 
till  we  reached  the  large  new  ship,  which  with 
its  gilding  within  and  without  appeared  like 
some  ship  of  the  gods.  This  was  the  vessel 
destined  by  his  majesty  for  the  use  of  the 
priests  who  were  sailing  for  La?ila.  So  on 
Thursday,  the  first  day  of  the  increasing  moon 
of  the  month  II,  about  ten  hours  after  dawn, 
the  sub-king  bore  the  golden  image  reverently 
on  his  own  bead  within  the  ship,  and  placed 
it  on  a  throne  surrounded  by  gold  embroidered 
hangings  of  various  colours  ;  the  holy  books  and 
the  king^'s  message  were  similarly  disposed  of, 
and  the  presents  and  offerings  were  stowed 
away.  The  priests  were  then  taken  on  board 
amidst  cries  of  "Sadhu  '*  and  the  firing  of  guns 
and  the  accompaniment  of  music,  and  were 
followed  by  the  three  Siamese  ambassadors  who 
were  proceeding  to  La^ita  accompanied  by 
many  presents.  A  message  was  also  conveyed 
to  us  from  the  king,  giving  us  permission  to 
depart  and  also  directing  that  Wilbagedara 
Muhandiram  Eala  alone,  who  was  well  known 
to  the  Ther63  and  ambassadors — he  had  been 
to  Siam  on  a  previous  occasion — should  travel 
in  the  Siamese  ship.  The  rest  of  us  were  also 
4r(i<lvieBted  to  go  on  board  the  ship,  bat  as  the 


(  ^  ) 

number  of  the  Siamese  attendants  and  the 
quantity  of  their  baggage  was  e:reat,  we  were 
to  continue  our  journey  by  the  Hollander's  ship. 
Three  Siamese  nobles  were  also  ordered  to 
accompany  U3  as  fas  as  the  seaport  of  Siam. 

Accordingly  we  started  in  great  state,  and  a& 
we  proceeded  down  the  river  the  priests  who 
lived  in  the  vihAras  on  the  bants,  with  the 
chief  men  of  the  villages  and  the  people  them- 
selves crowded  round  in  boats  so  that  the  river 
3i  could  not  be  seen,  bringing  with  them  presents 
for  the  prie-ts  who  wpre  starting  for  Lanlj/i. 
We  arrived  in  thi;^  manupr  at  the  temple  called 

35  Wat  Thon  Lak  Dban,  where  the  chief  people 
provided  presents  and  robes  to  be  offered  by 
U9  to  the  priests  accompanying  us  so  as  to 
acquire  merit ;  while  at  the  same  time  we  were 
entertained  at  a  feast. 

When  we  drew  near  Bingkok  we  were 
similarly  received  and  treated ;  the  same 
occurred  at  Amsterdam,  where  we  arrived  next; 
at  last  on  the  afternoon  of  Friday, the  fourteenth 
day  of  the  solar  month  VriBchika,  beingr  the 
eighth  day  of  the  increasinj?  half  of  the  lunar 
month,  we  reached  the  harbour  of  Siam.  Im- 
mediately the  four  of  us  who  were  to  travel  by 
the  Hollander's  ship  proceeded  on  board  witb 
our  attendants,  and  the  two  ships  anchored  side 
by  side,  while  the  luggage  meant  for  tbf^  Siamese 
ship  was  taken  there,  wherF»  too  Wilba^edara 
Muhandiram  proceeded  with  <^ne  servant  and' 
an  attendant  soldier.  On  Wednesday  the* 
fourth  day  of  the  solar  month  Dhanu,  at  the 
twenty-third  hour  of  the  mornings  the  two 
ships  hoisted  sail,  and   we  steered   out   of  the 

36  harbour,  the  Siamese  ship  leading.  Oa  Thurs- 
day this  later  disappeared  from  our  sigbt^andi 


(    41    ) 

though  we  .Tere  greatlj  disturbed  in  mind 
about  her,  we  sailed  on  till  on  the  afternoon  of 
Monday,  the  twentj-third  day  of  the  solar 
month,  we  reached  the  harbour  of  Malacca  and 
cast  anchor. ' 

Six  days  later,  on  Saturday  morning,  three 
officers  came  from  the  fort  and  took  us  on  land 
in  a  sloop,  where  we  were  conducted  with  much 
ceremony  to  our  halting  place.  Later  we  were 
taken  inside  the  fort,  where  the  Governor  and 
other  officers  exerted  themselves  to  allay  our 
anxiety  and  assured  us  that  the  ship  would 
arrive  in  safety.  They  also  fitted  out  a  sloop 
to  go  and  make  inquiries,  and  sent  despatches 
regarding  the  matter  to  Batavia  in  a  ship.  But 
though  we  questioned  the  captains  of  all  the 
vessels  that  came  from  foreign  parts,  we  could 
obtain  no  information  whatever ;  accordingly 
we  resolved  to  wait  till  we  did  get  some  definite 
news.  We  waited  on  till  the  next  year,  which 
was  the  6'aka  year  1G74,  till  on  the  thirteenth 
day  of  the  solar  month  Yrisabha,  the  captain  of 
a  newly-irrived  ship  came  to  our  halting-place 
and  informed  us  that  the  Siamese  ship  had  lost 
her  masts  and  could  not  proceed  on  her  voyage, 
and  had  consequently  been  towed  back  by 
several  boats  to  Siam  itself. 

As  we  heard  that  a  sloop  trading  with 
Siam  was  lying  idle  in  the  harbour,  we  consulted 
the  Governor  and  started  her  captain  off  with 
a  letter.  We  waited  till  Saturday  the  tenth 
day  of  the  solar  month  Dhanu,  when  the 
Governor  sent  u^  by  an  offif^er  from  the  fort 
a  letter  which  Wilbagedara  Muhandiram  Rila 
had  forwarded.  The  purport  of  this  letter  was 
that  His  Majesty  the  Kins:  of  Siam  had  graci- 
ously bidden  them  when  taken  before  him  not 


(    42    ) 

to  be  disbeartened  at  tbeir  miscbance ;  tbe 
priests  destined  for  Lanka,  tbe  presents,  and 
tbe  tbree  Siamese  ambassadors  would  start 
again  in  tbe  montb  of  Wak  from  tbe  district 
of  Miri^ija,  and  reacb  Lanka  tbia  year  itself; 
tbe  ambassadors  wbo  were  waitinsj  at  Malacca 
sbould  accordinfjly  by  directed  to  start  bome: 
in  obedience  to  wbich  command  tbis  letter  was 
written. 

We  accordingly  went  on  board  on  tbe  tbir- 
teentb  day  of  the  solar  montb,  beinpr  Friday, 
and  on  Saturday  we  steered  out  of  tbe  barbour, 
and  on  tbe  evening  of  tbe  fifteentb  day  of  tbe 
golar  montb  Makara,  beinsf  Monday,  we  landed 
at  tbe  Castle  of  Colombo.  Tbe  Governor  received 
XLi  wiib  great  consideration  and  arrangjed  quar- 
ters for  us  near  tbe  cburcb  at  Borella,  where 
we  remained  for  twenty-eight  dayp.  In  tbe 
meantime  be  sent  two  Mudaliyars  with  a  letter 
to  Siriwardbanapura ;  these  went  and  delivered 
tbeir  message  before  tbe  great  nobles  there, 
who  conveyed  the  same  to  the  knowledge  of  bis 
gracious  majesty,  when  the  Mudaliyars  received 
great  rewards.  A^oreover  he  gave  orders  for 
the  Padikiira  Moho/fAla,  De^Zigama  Mubandiram 
Kula,  and  Pusse'la  Muhandiram  Rala  to  proceed 
to  Colombo  and  accompany  tbe  newlylanded 
noble?  back.  Thpy  accordingly  came  to  Colombo 
and  delivered  their  message  to  the  Governor, 
who  received  them  with  every  mark  of  honour, 
and  accompanied  them  from  tbe  castle.  Six 
days  latf^r,  on  the  eighth  day  of  the  solar 
month  Kumbh^i,  which  is  the  fourteenth  day 
of  the  waning  moon  of  the  montb  Nav>im,  we 
arrived  at  the  capital  and  were  presented  before 
our  gracious  and  ever-victorious  king.  We 
were  received  with  great  kindness,  and  were 
anxiously  questioned  as  tD  whether   the   priests 


(   43   ) 
were  actually  coming. 

On  the  tenth  day  of  the  solar  month  Vnsch- 
chika  messeng;er3  arrived  with    the   news  that 
the  ship  conveying  the  Siamese  priests  had  cast 
anchor  at  the  harbour  of  Trincomalee  on  Mon- 
day the  fifth  day  of  the  increasingr  moon  of  the 
month  Wesak,  in  the  ^Saka  year  1675,  which  is 
Cilled  ^Srimukha.     No  sooner  w  s  this  glorious 
message  received  then  our  gracious   kinfj,   the 
mighty  ruler  of  Lanka,  gave  orders  that  palan- 
quins fitted  with  cushions  and  mattresses  should 
be  despatched,  as  well  as  a  supply  of   robes   of 
fine  cloth,  with   sweetmeats   and   rice  cakes   to 
help  them  on   the  way  :    he  also  sent  elephants 
to  head  the  procession  and  a  richly   caparisoned 
tusker   with  a   golden  litter   for  conveying  the 
king's    message,   with   a    body   of   trumpeters, 
drummers,  and  other  musicians.     The  following 
were  entrusted  with  this  work,  viz.,   ^telapola, 
Slaha    Adikarama;    Angammona,     Dissave    of 
Matalc  ;  Hulangamuwa,  Dissave  of  Uda  Palata; 
£l!epola  Kahande  Moho/^ala,  the   KotZituakku 
Lekama ;   ^llepola    Moho//jila,    the    VerZikkilra 
Lekama;    Kahande    Moho^^ala,     the    Kuruwe 
L^'rama;     Wiyalla     Mohc/^iila,     Muhandiram, 
who  was   in    charge    of    the    gabada^ama    of 
illadulu  ;  and  flarasgama  Muhandiram  Esila,  of 
the   Yidikkiiva.    Lekama.        I'hese    accordingly 
started  for  the  harbour  and  accompanied  thence 
the  priests,  the  three  Siamese  ambassadors,  the 
king's  letter,  and  the  presents  with  every  mark 
of  honour.    The  letter  was  placed  on  the  golden 
litter  which  was  carried  by  the  tusked  elephant 
with  jewelled  trappings  ;  the  holy    ima^ts   and 
books   were  carried   in    state   accompanied    by 
flags  and  umbrellas;  while  Upale   Maha  Terun- 
Danse,   with   the   seventeen    other   Theros   and 
seven  Samaneroe,  travelled  in  palanquins  richly 


(    -14   ) 

fitted  with  mats  and  pillows,  while  the  Siamese 
ambassadors  followed  in  andonis.  So  they 
proceeded,  halting:  at  01a2amuwa,  Gantale, 
Alutw^wa,  Minihirija,  Gon.'iwela,  and  Nalanda, 
On  reaching  Oo7apo]anuwara  five  noblemen 
proceeded  to  meet  them,  viz.,  Dumbara  Dissavc 
ofMjUale;  Angammana  Moho//a)a,  the  Maha 
Leicama  ;  Moladanf?,!,  Ea/e  EA'a  of  Yatinuwara 
^llepola  Kahandawe  Mohof/ala,  the  Pa^fikara 
Lc'kama,  and  Willu^edara  Kuc?a  Muhandiram 
Eala  of  the  same  Lekama, 

These  went  and  made  their   obeisance  to  the 
priests  and  saw  that  they  were  properly  lodged, 
and  the  image,  the   books,  the  rojal  letter  and 
presents  deposited  in   a  place  of  safety ;   after 
this  the  ambassadors   were  also  conducted  to 
their   lodginQS   with   great   ceremony.       Later 
.GheVapola,    Maha    Adikarama,    Hulangamuwa, 
Dissave  of  Uda  Palata,  and  the  aforesaid  chiefs 
returned   to   the  capital  and  had   an  audience 
with    the  kinor.       A    few  days  later    TOuwela 
muhandiram  Ea^.a  and  Eittaliyadde  Muhandiram 
E.i'a  were   sent  to  Go^'apolanuwara  to  inquire 
after  the  well-being  of  the  priests  and  ambas. 
sadors,  and  to  report  the  same  to  the  king  with, 
out  delay.     Later  orders  were  given   to  Sama- 
rakkoddy,  the  U(fagampaha  Adigar,  Dodanwela, 
Dissave  of  Uva,  and  Miwature    Mohoffala,  the 
Attapattu  Lekama,  to  proceed  to  Goc^apolanu- 
wara   and   escort  thence   the  holy  imager,    the 
books,  the  king's  letter  and  presents,  together 
with  the  priests,  to  the  capital.     This  they  did 
and  accompanied   them   as  far  as  Alutgantota, 
where  they  halted.     The  next  day  being  Friday 
the  seventh  day  of  the  waninsr  half  of  the  month 
Poson   in    the   5'aka    year   1675,  his    eracioua 
majesty  himself,  lord  of  the  earth,  who  is  res- 
plendent with  every  virtue,   proceeded   to  the 


(   45  ) 

Bodima/uwa  by  the  side  cf  ihe  river;  here  he 
made  bis  obeisance  to  tbe  priests  and  received 
tbem  witb  all  graciousness,  and  after  pirit  bad 
been  recited,  thev  were  brought  in  tbe  evening 
to  tbe  Malwatte  Vilae,  wbere  lodgings  bad  been 
newly  erected  and  adorned  for  them  with  all 
speed  ;  here  they  were  lodged,  and  orders  were 
given  to  provide  tbem  witb  all  necessaries.  At 
tbe  same  time  tbe  Siamese  ambassadors  with  the 
letter  and  presents  were  sent  to  tbe  Bo^ambra 
Tbanajama,  where  every  honour  was  paid  to 
tbem  and  their  wants  attended  to. 

On  tbe  evening  of  thp  secand  diy  of  the  solar 
month  Kataka,  being  Friday  the  thirtpenth  day 
of  tbe  lunar  month,  at  the  Malwatte  ViLare, 
Upali  Maba  Thero  admitted  one  of  the  S;imane- 
ros  who  bad  accompanied  him  from  Siam  into 
tbe  Upasampadawa.  On  tbe  night  of  Saturday 
tbe  full  moon  day  of  the  month  ^sala,  at  the 
first  watch,  bis  majesty,  tbe  lamp  in  tbe  jewelled 
ball  of  tbe  Solar  race,  took  bis  seat  in  the  preach- 
ing-hall filled  wita  exultant  joy  and  kindness, 
and  at  bis  rf  qnest,  which  was  addressed  to  UpMi 
Maba  Tbeio.  Arja  Muni  Maba  Thero,  and  the 
other  Tbeios^  Kobbyyakaduwe  Uncanse,  the 
Nayaka  Priest  of  tbe  Uposataratna,  Weliwiia 
UnraQsu,  Hulangamuwa  Untanse,  Bambara- 
deniva  Uncanse,  Thibbotuwawe  Unnjinse  and 
NavfnDc,  tbe  Nayaka  Unnanst'  of  A-^giriya,  were 
admitted  into  the  Upasampadawa.  And  thus 
after  many  years  tbi .  feast  of  the  Great  Ordina- 
tion which  had  so]<mg  been  neg:iected  in  Lanka, 
was  re-established  once  more  amidst  the  rejoic- 
ings of  the  populace,  tbe  triumphant  noise  of 
drums,  chanks,  and  the  five  kinds  of  music,  and 
tbe  roar  of  cannon. 

On  tbe  night  of  Tuesday  the  twentieth  day  of 
tbe  solar  month  the  Audience  Hall  was  adorned 
with  awnings  and  hangings   of  silk  and  gold 


(    46    ) 

embroideries.  And  here  our  mightj  king,  the 
lord  of  kinfje,  seated  on  his  throne,  received  with 
all  graciousness  the  three  Siamese  ambassadors 
who  brou<j;ht  the  letter  and  presents  from  their 
king^.  Thej  were  at  the  same  time  presented 
with  three  chains  and  three  fjold  rings,  three 
embroidered  tuppa/fies,  three  red  and  three  yel- 
low, an  extrj  one  beins:  siven  to  the  ambassador 
who  carried  the  king's  letter ;  various  presents 
were  also  given  to  the  attendants,  and  three 
thousand  ridia  were  distributed  among  them  all. 
After  this  Upiili  Mahasa  mi  and  the  other  Theros 
who  accompanied  him  were  invited  to  worship 
the  Sacred  Tooth  and  so  acquire  merit ;  and 
subsequently  the  ambassadors  were  allowed  to 
do  likewise. 

As  for  the  king's  letter,  after  the  principal 
nobles  had  met  in  the  Audience  flail,  Weliwifa 
Terunnnnsc  caused  it  to  be  unwrapped  by  Tib- 
bofuwawa  Terunnanse;  it  was  then  wrapped  up 
again,  and  sealed  and  deposited  in  the  treasury, 
covering  and  all.  As  for  the  books  that  had 
been  received,  they  were  paraded  ound  the 
streets  with  great  pomp  in  a  golden  litter  placed 
on  the  back  of  a  tusker  with  jewelled  trappings, 
accompanied  by  the  five  kinds  of  music,  after 
which  they  were  formally  dedicated. 

[Next  follows  the  names  of  the  priests,  dif- 
fering somewhat  from  the  names  already  given.] 

NOTES. 

1. —  Wilbagedara  Muhandirara  has  recorded 
the  names  of  the  sixty-six  persons  who  composed 
the  mission  ;  they  werp — 

Pattepola  Mohof/iVa,  three  Arachchies  and 
nine  men  (heivdyS)  of  his  Lckama,  and 
five  personal  attendants, 
fillepola  Mohof/a^a,  three  Arachchies  and 


(   47   ) 

seven  men  of  his  Leiama,  and  one  at- 
tendant. 
Irijagama    Muhandiram.    two   Arachchies 
and  five  men  of  his  Wasama,  and  one 
attendant. 
Eittalijadde    Muhandiram,    one    Arachchi 
and  three  men  of  his  Wiisama,  and  one 
attendant. 
WilliWedara  Muhandiram,  two  Arachchies 
and  three  men  of  his  Wdsama,  and  two 
attendants — a    WahumpurajA    and    a 
Ouraja. 
In  addition  there  were  three  trumpeter?,  three 
performers  on  the  tambuniiva,  five  on  the  siiigd- 
rama,  and  two  on  the  Jwranewa* 

2. — The  message  to  the  King  of  Siam  was 
written  in  Fali  bj  AVeliwi/a  Sara/KitA.ira  Ud- 
nuuse  of  Malwatte  Vib;irc  ;  thpre  was  also  a 
second  letter  addressed  to  the  Saii^T^  Eaja. 

3.  —  At  Trincomalee  the  ambassadors  were 
housed  in  the  Commander's  flower  garden. 

4. — The  Dutch  ship  that  conveyed  them  was 
named  the  "  Yel  trek." 

5. — In  Sumatra,  W.  tells  us,  gold,  lead,  and 
the  whetstone  are  found* 

G. — At  Malacca  the  royal  letter  was  deposited 
in  a  twc-stoned  building  attached  to  the  Fiscal's 
residence. 

7 — Tbey  started  agrain  in  the  month  of  Wesak, 
Saka  1673;  and  sailed  past  Rio  and  Johore, 
\9here  ponamhra  Siud  minamhra  (ambereris?)  is 
found ;  "  the  robbers  here,"  naively  adds  the 
writer,  perhaps  referring:  to  tbe  piratical  Malays, 
'*even  siay  people.'*  Npxt  they  passed  Pulu 
Timung,  Pulu  Piang,  Pulu  Hovu,  mere  rocky 
points  in  the  sea,  as  well  as  Pahang,  Kalantang, 
Tranganu,  Patani,  which  latter  produc&  gold, 
lead,  and  camphor  ;  seme  of  them  were  reported 
to  be  inhabited  by  cannibals ;  thence  past  Cam- 


(    48   ) 

bodjia  to  Siam, 

8. — On  rencMnor  the  harbour  the  captain  and 
KannedenijL*  Arachchi  of  the  Pa(?ikara  Muhan- 
diram  Wtlsama  were  despatched  to  announce  at 
the  Siamese  capital  the  arrival  of  the  embassy; 
and  twenty-four  days  later  the  rest  landed, 

0. — Amsterdam,  the  old  Dutch  factory  near 
the  modern  Paklat. 

10. — Miiang  :  a  district  under  a  governor.—- 

11. — Wat  Aram:  the  spot  is  the  Wat  Prot 
Sat,  "the  salvation  of  sentient  beings;"  the 
ancient  temple  is  still  existing,  and  has  been 
repaired  by  the  late  king's  brother.  There  is  a 
sacred  well  here,  the  water  of  which  is  supposed 
to  wasb  away  sins. 

13- — "Puri"  in  Siam  a  provincial  town,  and 
is  not  applied  to  the  capital  the  old  capital  was 
Sri   Ayudhaya  Maha  Nag;ara. 

11. — The  money  distributed  among  the  Si7iha- 
lese  amounted  to  700  ticals. — W. 

Masam  puva,  also  called  Mayon  a  quarter  of 
a  tical  not  Siamese.  Tical  is  the  foreign  name 
given  to  the  Siamese  coin  of  the  largest  deno- 
mination, called  Bat.  Coins  of  smaller  deno- 
minations of  the  same  round  shape  are  salting 
and  fiiang,  and  bia,  cowries  the  last  being  only 
tokens, 

15. — The  elephant  in  the  gilt  stall  opposite 
the  palace  gate  was  the  white  elephaiit ;  facing 
it  was  the  black  elephant ;  but  the  description 
given  in  the  translated  version  would  appear  to 
relate  to  the  red  elephant,  iiccording  to  Bald- 
leus,  the  King  of  Siam  was  styled  "Lord  of  the 
Golden  Thrones,  also  of  the  White,  fled,  and 
Bound-tailed  Elephants,  three  excellent  draught 
beasts  which  the  highest  god  has  given  to  none 
otber." 


(   49  ) 

16. — The  custom  of  drawinij  up  the  war 
elephants  in  circles  in  front  of  the  palaca  also 
prevailed  at  the  Si?ihalese  court. 

17. — After  thej  had  been  granted  an  audience 
the  members  of  the  mission  were  entertained 
at  a  place  named  Maha-Sombath  Kalan  ;  the 
rooms  were  hun<Tf  with  awning^s  and  curtains. 
Each  ambassador  was  provided  with  three  silver 
trajs  each  (  or  each  three?  )  fitted  with  fiftj- 
one  small  s^old  dishes,  fi  led  with  various  dainties 
forming  the  five  courses  of  a  feast. 

18. — Vat  Puthi  Suwan,  correctly  Wat  Buih 
dhaiy  6 'ra  71— Aram  a  of  the  Heaven  ot  Buddha 
(s'van — svarga), — J. 

19. — Maba  Dharmarama  (  ?  )  :  Neither  Siam- 
ese nor  Piili ;  but  there  is  a  temple  called  Maha- 
Dhatu,  the  principal  one  in  the  city  ;  from  the 
description  and  the  fact  that  it  was  the  seat  of 
the  San 4a  R'»ja,  the  two  are  probably  identical. 
In  this  temple  was  enshrined  a  solid  gjold  image 
of  great  size,  which  was  melted  and  carried  away 
by  the  Burmese.  A  bronze  one  remains  to  this 
day  in  a  state  of  decay. — J. 

20. — Naputhan,  or  rather  Na-pa-tan,  **^the 
paddy  field  of  the  burnt  forest."  The  name  is 
still  in  existence. — J. 

21.— The  offerings  made  to  the  Saii^a  Ruja 
were : 

220  pieces  of  red  and  \  Styli 

yellow  silk  I  Toothpicks  (  metil  ) 

30  red  fans  \  ]NJailpicks  (  metal  ) 

30  strmgs  of  prayer  beads  \  Lookmgs,-glasses 

30  packets  of  needles         i  Cloves,  nutmegs, 
Arecanut  cutter  cinnamon 

Chunam  boxes  ^^^ax  caudles 

Scissors  2  alms  bowls 

Razors  I  1  ^'^^  ^^  cloth 

22. — The  second    Pub-king    must    have   been 


(   50   ) 

"  The  Palace  of  the  Rear  Guard  "  (o^reat  person- 
ages are  called  bj  the  names  of  their  residences), 
"who  is  at  the  head  of  the  Reserve  Forces.  But 
more  probiblj  it  wat  one  of  the  great  ministers, 
to  judjje  from  the  reception. — J. 

23. — The  Was  season  :  the  rainy  season,  when 
the  priests  retire  from  forpsts  into  house?. 

24. — Kujijoth  Ratnarama  :  probably  Wat 
Jajawardhara^'ioia,  one  of  the  well  known  and 
rojal  temples,  now  in  ruins.— J. 

25. — No  Minister  of  State  would  be  employed 
in  carrying  thinors  even  at  a  religious  procession; 
these  were  probably  minor  officers  dre&sed  as 
Devas. — J, 

26. — No  sub  kings  are  entrusted  with  affairs 
of  S'ate  except  of  the  War  Department  and  in 
bullrling  defensive  works  in  war  time.  The  two 
great  ministers  are  of  the  Interior  and  War,  or 
of  the  North  and  South,  having  charge  of  the 
Government  of  th^  Northern  and  Southern 
Provinces  respectively,  and  the  latterof  military 
affairs  in  time  of  peace  as  well. — J. 

27— This  is  really  the  «•  Light  Offering:,"  or 
Padipa  Puja  performed  on  water  twice  at  the 
end  of  the  Was  season  on  the  full  moon  of  the 
eleventh  and  twelfth  months,  and  is  continued 
three  days  on  each  occasion.  The  middle  day  is 
the  full  moon,  on  which  the  people  indulge  in 
extravagance,  in  music,  sinsring  and  playing 
on  the  water,  and  make  offerings  of  floating 
lights  and  flowers  and  fireworks  in  miniature 
temporary  boats  and  vessels  of  all  sorts.  It  is 
in  fjict  a  popular  fete—^J. 

28. — Only  three  ou^  of  the  five  ambassadors, 
viz.,  Ellepola  Moho/Zala,  Eittaliyadde  Rala,  and 
Wilbagedara,  went  on  the  pilgrimage  to  the 
Sacred  Footprint ;  they  were  accompanied  by 
seTenteen  of  their  if Mi7e,  whose  names  are  also 
stated,       ^jcioa'  '  ' 


(  51   ) 

Oa  passing  the  first  wall  enclosing  the  sacred 
site  the  pilgrims  knelt  and  worshipped  with  their 
foreheads  touchiner  the  g^round;  then  thej  passed 
the  copper  umbrellas  with  stocks  three  spans  ia 
circumference,  and  up  the  stone  steps  with  ser- 
pents on  either  side  to  the  first  stage  ;  another 
flight  of  stone  steps  brought  them  to  the  second 
stage,  which  was  sprinkled  with  sand.  These  sta- 
ges appear  to  1  ave  run  right  round  the  mountain 
peak.  The  next  fl'ght  was  covered  with  lead, 
and  led  to  the  last  stage,  which  was  similarly  co- 
vered. The  imprint  was  of  the  right  foot ;  it 
was  enclosed  in  a  building^  14  carpenters'  cubits 
square  and  18  fathoms  high,  while  the  shrine 
over  the  imprint  itself  was  7  cubits  high,  raised 
on  pillars  of  gold.  Wilbagedara  also  tfstifiea 
to  the  extraordinary  expenditure  of  gold  over 
the  ornamentation  of  the  temple. 

Reference  is  made  to  this  shrine  by  Bal- 
dceus,  who  also  gives  a  list  of  the  auspicious 
signs. 

29. — The  rock  on  which  the  footprint  was 
discovered  had  been  named  **Suwanna  banphot:" 
Fancliata  is  evidently  pahhata,  and  mahipahatha 
is  maha  prasat.  Prasat  is  the  corrupt  Pali 
prasdda,  a  building  of  from  one  to  nine  stories 
with  a  djigaba-shaped  top,  like  the  Brazen  Palace 
at  Anunidhapura.  The  now  existing  building, 
called  the  mandape,  has  replaced  the  original 
structure  which  was  destroyed  by  lightning.— J. 

30. — Native  resthou  es  for  pilgrims,  which 
abound  to  this  day.— J. 

31, —  Probably  Satapanna  pahhata,  adapted 
from  the  name  of  the  ancient  cave  in  Pajagaba 
at  which  the  fi  st  Buddhist  Council  took 
place. — J. 

32.  — The  description  of  these  stages  seems  to 
correspond  to  the  usual  basement  of  a  pasada 
building,  which  is   always   elaborately   moulded 


(  52   ) 


2  cloth  water  strainers 

1  >>etel  ba;^' 
GO  wax  candles 

S  Inindles  inceL    ^  sticks 

1  log  sandalwoc 

9  alras-bowls 
Cloves  (  9^iDj^  ),nntmejr, 
cinnamon,      camphor, 
cardamoms 
Needles 

Kidis,  thuttus  and  c«'» 
Flowers 
Lamps,  v^c. 


in  ornamental  lines  in  stages    with  figures    sup- 
porting them.: — J, 

33. — The  offerings  made  at  this  shrine  were— 

1  gold  pagoda  (varakan) 
r»3  rupees 
r)0  current  rid  is 

1  tical  ridi 

2  coloured  cloths  worth 

no  ridis 
11  rolls  of  fine  cloth,  18  cub- 
its long,  5?  spans  wide, 
worth  IT")  ridis 
'.^  cloths,  named  Kaveniya, 
Samukkalama,  and 

Sarasaya 
*2  lansolu  cloths 
1  silk  tuppatiya 

34. — This  is  literally  true  even  to  the  present 
days,  for  rivers  and  creeks  are  the  highways  of 
Siam  and  no  household  is  without  at  least  one 
boat. — J. 

35." — LaJc  is  a  common  name  for  a  village 
temple,  meaning  pillar  or  post,  probably  referr- 
ing to  the  mark  set  up  when  a  site  is  selected  for 
a  temple.  Dhaiiy  perhaps  Siamese  Ddn^  "  the 
pillar  of  charity."— J. 

36,  — Wilbagedara  has  left  us  the  following 
additional  information.  On  Thuisday  the  eighth 
day  of  the  increasing  moon  of  the  month 
Uduwak,  in  the  Saka  year  1674,  about  midnisrht, 
Pattapola  A/fapattuwe  Moho/fala  died  at  Bang- 
kok while  the  ambassadors  were  on  their  way 
home.  The  corpse  was  dressed  in  four  cloths 
with  an  inner  and  outer  vest  and  a  **  jaggalat 
thoppiya  :"  a  mattress  was  spread  at  the  bottom 
of  the  coffin  with  pillows  at  he^d  and  foot,  and 
the  body  laid  on  these,  and  the  coffin  closed. 
Over  all  a  violet  (  ^Qds:8p\  )  thuppatiya  was 
cast  as  a  pall  and  the  coffin  placed  on  the  deck. 
The  priests  then  recited  baua,  and  after  offerings 
had  been  made  to  them  the  coffin  \ya8  lowered 
into  the  ship's  boat,  which  sailed  away   under  £^. 


(   53   ) 

salute  of  thirty-two  gun?.  After  sailinpf  eight 
gawas  the  coffin  was  landed  at  night  and  remo* 
ved  inside  a  house,  while  the  twenty  oarsmen 
were  fed  with  rice  bought  at  the  spot.  Oa 
Saturday  at  ten  p^i/as  after  dawn  it  was  placed 
within  the  preaching-hall  of  the  Vat  Pakanoth 
Vihiire,  when  forty  priests  recited  haua»  Six 
hundred  lo?s  of  wood  were  purchased,  and  the 
corpse  cremated  within  apparently  a  cremator- 
ium. 

A  disgrraceful  incident  followed  ;  Nattabura 
Unciinse,  who  had  accompanied  the  writer  on 
his  first  voyage  to  Slam  and  had  then  deserted, 
now  appeared  on  the  scene  in  an  attempt  to  obtain 
for  himself  the  property  of  the  deceased  Mohof^- 
iila  ;  in  fact,  as  the  writer  ruefully  observes,  he 
was  robbed  of  a  whole  night's  sleep  by  the  im- 
portunities of  this  son  of  Belial,  who  was  put 
off  by  a  reference  to  the  decision  of  the  Court 
of  Kandy.  He  then  proceeded  to  the  ship 
where  the  priests  werp.  and  demarided  from  them 
the  offerings  tl»at  had  been  made  to  them  by 
the  ambassadors  ,  their  refusal  so  exasperated 
him  that  he  proceeded  to  strike  the  saintly  Arya 
Muai  Tliero  and  a  novice  on  their  heads  with  a 
club.  The  alarmed  priests  refused  point  blank 
to  proceed  an^  further ;  for,  said  they,  if  the 
men  sent  from  La?ika  are  such,  what  would 
those  who  remain  at  home  be  like  ?  However. 
J5?llepola  Mohoffa^a  had  the  miscreant  arrested 
and  handed  over  to  the  authorities  on  land, 
while  the  Siamese  ambassadors  succeeded  in 
pacifying  the  agritated  priests,  and  they  set  sail. 

A  few  days  later  the  ship  was  discovered  to 
have  sprung  a  leak,  and  she  began  to  fill  so 
rapidly  that  they  were  obliged  to  cast  their 
cargo  overboard  to  keep  her  afl  )at ;  t^ue  priests 
however  recited  baua  day  and  night  without  in- 
termission, and  with  such  effect  that  they  succee- 


(    £4   ) 

ded  the  next  day  in  driFiug  her  agrround  on  a 
mud  bank  near  the  harbour  of  Muwang  Lakon, 
a  dependency  of  Siam,  with  all  the  crew  and 
Kings's  presents  safe.  Here  thej  landed  and 
proceeded  to  the  capitil,  a  fortified  town  named 
Pataliputra  ;  in  the  middle  of  it  was  a  dagaba 
(as  largre  as  the  Ruanweli  danraba  at  Polonnar- 
iiwa )  which  had  been  built  bj  Kino  Daarmasoka 
to  contain  some  relics  of  the  Buddha.  It  was 
gilt  from  top  to  bottom,  and  the  wilding  was  in 
such  exc<»llent  preservation  that  the  whole  re- 
sembled a  newlj  polishpd  grold  karamluwa. 
Three  hundred  statues  and  two  hundred  silt 
<?a2:abas,  varying  in  height  from  9  to  11  carpen- 
ters' cubits,  encircled  the  central  structure. 
Tbere  was  also  in  the  c»ty  a  holy  &o-tree  which 
Kin^  Dharniafo  ca  the  Less  hf»d  within  recent 
times  obtained  from  Anuiaihpura.  Every 
morning  the  pripsts  of  the  various  temples  pro- 
ceed to  collect  alms;  three  commissioners  i«uper- 
vise  the  affairs  of  the  clerjjy  over  all  the  Siamese 
dominions  ;  and  by  their  orders  all,  whether 
thereto  induced  by  religious  sentiment  or  not, 
have  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  priest- 
hood and  the  maintenance  of  the  edifices.  * 

The  country  is  rich  in  deposits  of  black  and 
white  lend  (tin?),  ric^,  betel,  arecanut,  &c., 
but  robbers  are  numerous  and  bloodthirsty, 
witchcraft  abounds,  and  caucerous  and  leprous 
diseases  are  frequent. 

From  here  the  Siamese  ambassadors  sent  a 
letter  to  their  king  to  inform  him  of  the  mis- 
fortune that  had  overtaken  them  ;  this  letter  was 
sent  by  land  in  charge  of  ten  people,  who  deli- 
vered it  at  the  capital  in  a  month  and  seven  days 
The  king's  order  was  that  the  ships  should  be 
repaired  and  taken  back  to  Siam,  which  they 
accordingly  proceeded  to  do,  being  hospitably 
received  by  all  the   magnates  of  the  coast.     For 


(  55   ) 


instance,    two     of    them     sent    the  followiDg 
presents  :-^ 

15  durians 
300  mangosteens 
100  mangoes 


7  jak 
45  pineapples 
10  plantain  bunches 

9  bunches  tender 

cocoanuts 


70  cocoanuts 
60  bundles  betel 
16  bunches  arecanuts 
15  dried  fish 
100         do.      (small) 
60  duck  eggs 

1  package  limes 

5  boxes  of  rice 


At  1.1  st,  on  Wednesday,  the  third  day  of  the 
increasing  moon  of  the  month  ^sala,  in  the 
<!l^aka  ypar  1G74,  they  arrived  at  the  c^iamese 
Capital  a  seoond  time,  and  were  received  in  aud- 
ience by  the  kingf.  He  addres^pd  himself  most 
gra(^iou?ly  to  the  writer,  and  bade  him  not  to 
be  disheartened  at  his  misfortune,  as  the  king^ 
had  given  orders  that  everythin*^  should  be 
armnged  for  his  return  journ?y. 

It  is  interestinof  to  note  that  the  word  put  into 
the  king's  mouth  in  addressing  Wilbajedara 
is  «i©j. 

Their  return,  however,  was  still  to  be  delayed; 
One  of  the  king's  great  ships  with  a  valuable  car<» 
sro,  including  elephants,  was  lost  on  a  voyage  to 
Sinnapattanam,  onl^  se^en  or  ei^ht  of  the  crew 
escaping  in  a  boat ;  moreover,  four  ships  riding 
at  anchor  in  the  harbour  were  destroyed  by  a 
cyclone  ;  and  to  crown  all,  the  sub-'^ing  himself 
died  shortly  after.  The  king  accordingly  hesita- 
ted about  sending  the  priests  to  L^nka  in  such 
a  year  of  disaster,  and  corsulted  WilbA  yedara, 
who  sent  the  following  reply  : — **  I,  too,  am  in 
great  distress  at  the  misfortunes  that  have 
occurred ;  but  the  uncertainty  of  the  future, 
grief,  and  death  are  no  new  thing  in  our  world 
of  sorrow;  herefore  should  you  hasten  to  fructify 
your  desire  to  spread  the  knowledtje  of  the  one 
thing  that  is  certain,  the  preaching  of  the  Lord." 


(56   ) 

Further,  he  went  on  to  add  how  in  the  dajs  of 
old  there  were  no  Hollanders  in  the  Island  of 
Lawka,  but  his  majesty  King  Sri  Kaja  Sinha 
had  sent  his  rojal  message  and  summoned  them 
from  across  the  sea  to  guard  his  coasts,  for 
which  purpose  be  had  put  them  in  charge  of  his 
fortp,  and  thej  had  since  served  him  with  all 
loyalty ;  and  every  year  embassies  come  from 
diverse  countries  to  the  court  of  our  king  to 
solicit  his  friendship  with  costly  presents. 

Apparently  the  king  was  greatly  impressed  ; 
he  sent  two  courtiers  to  make  further  inquiries 
from  WilbiiTfedara,  who  informed  them  that  the 
States  of  Sinnapattanam,  Madura,  Tanjore, 
Trichincpoly,  Kilakkari,  and  Mysore  send  yearly 
tribute  and  obtain  permission  to  participate  in 
the  pearl  fishery. 

Shortly  after  Wilbngedara  had  a  dream.  He 
dreamt  thct  he  was  leading  a  herd  of  elephants 
one  pure  white  in  colour,  and  the  rest  speckled 
to  a  frpshly  reaped  field,  where  the  PacZikara 
Woha//a'a  and  his  own  younger  brother  the 
Muhandiram  came  to  meet  him,  removing^  the 
turbans  tbey  bad  round  their  heads.  As  they 
approached  he  noticed  that  leeches  were  climb- 
ine:  up  his  legs,  and  as  he  stooped  to  brush  them 
off  he  awoke. 

This  dream  was  the  harbinger  of  happy  news. 
The  following  morning  two  ship  captains  named 
Nicholas  Bath  and  Martino  appeared,  and  with 
many  declarations  of  their  being  the  humble  and 
loyal  servants  of  their  majesties  of  Siam  and 
La?ika,  placed  their  new  ship  the  ^*  Cecilia  '*  at 
the  service  of  the  Sinhalese  ambassador.  This 
cffer  was  joyfully  accepted  ;  and  on  Sunday  the 
third  day  of  the  waning  moon  of  the  month 
Duruta,  the  priests  and  the  Siamese  mission  of 
seventy-four  ^ouls,  including  the  five  ambas*  ' 
sadors,    their    interpreters,     cleik   ( Eitmiyen ), 


(   57   ) 

Arachchies,  (tnon),  "appas"  ( thinei ),  soldiers, 
two  massa^cMrs  (^-coescb  tJifeoS)  ®D<f^ )  EDUsiciane, 
and  attendent  bojs  proceeded  on  board.  After 
an  uneventful  vojage  they  reached  Batavia, 
where  they  were  hospitably  received  by  the 
Dutch  general,  who  presented  thpoi  with  various 
articles,  including  three  guns.  Here  they  tran- 
shipped into  a  larger  vessel,  the  "  O^cabel,"  in 
which  they  reached  Trincomalee  on  Monday,  Ihe 
thirteenth  day  of  the  increasing  moon  of  the 
month  Wesak,  in  the  5aka  year  1675. 

Addendum. —  As  some  discussion  has  arisen  on 
the  statement  contained  in  paragraph  2,  page 
13,  I  add  the  literal  translation  of  the  passage 
kindly  supplied  to  me  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Ranesinghe: 

"  A^lthough  we  wrote  them,  many  things  were 
omitted  from  what  was  related ^to  us  and  from 
what  we  saw,  which  seemed  to  be  incredible  " 


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