Part 85 (1/2)

[Footnote 1: _Rajaratnacari_, p. 73.]

[Footnote 2: _Ibid_., p. 60.]

[Footnote 3: _Rajavali_, p. 214.]

[Footnote 4: B.C. 204. _Rajavali_, p. 190.]

[Footnote 5: A.D. 1267, _Rajartnacari_, p. 104.]

[Footnote 6: _Rajaratnacari_, pp. 104, 134.]

_Bells_.--Bells were hung in the palaces[1], and bell-metal is amongst the gifts to the temples recorded on the rock at Pollanarrua, A.D.

1187.[2]

[Footnote 1: _Mahawanso_, ch. xxi. pp. 128, 129.]

[Footnote 2: TURNOUR'S _Epitome, &c.,_ Appx. p. 91.]

_Bronze_.--Bronze was cast into figures of Buddha[1], and the _Mahawanso_, describing the reign of Dhatu-Sena, A.D. 459, makes mention of ”sixteen bronze statues of virgins having the power of locomotion.”[2]

[Footnote 1: A.D. 275. _Mahawanso_, ch. x.x.xvii. p. 236; _Rajavali_, p.

l35.]

[Footnote 2: _Mahawanso_, ch. x.x.xviii. p. 257.]

_Lead_.--Lead was used during the wars of Dutugaimunu and Elala, and poured molten over the attacking elephants during the siege of Wijittapoora.[1] As lead is not a native product of Ceylon, it must have been brought thither from Ava or Malwa.

[Footnote 1: _Mahawanso_, ch. xxv. p. 152.]

_Gold and Silver._--Ceylon, like the continent of India, produces no silver and gold, save in the scantiest quant.i.ties.[1] The historical books, in recording the splendour of the temples and their riches, and the wealth lavished by the kings upon the priesthood, describe in perpetually recurring terms, the mult.i.tude of ornaments and vessels made of silver and gold. In early times the most precious of these were received as gifts from the princes of India, and in the second century before Christ the _Mahawanso_ records the arrival of s.h.i.+ps in the south of the island, ”laden with golden utensils.” The import of these might possibly have been a relic of the early trade with the Phoenicians, whom Homer, in a pa.s.sage quoted by Strabo (l. xvi. c. 2. s. 24.), describes as making these cups, and carrying across the sea for sale in the great emporiums visited by these s.h.i.+ps.[2] A variety of articles of silver are spoken of at very early periods. Dutugaimunu, when building the great dagoba, caused the circle of its base to be described by ”a pair of compa.s.ses made of silver, and pointed with gold;”[3] parasols, vases, caranduas and numerous other regal or religious paraphernalia, were made from this precious material. Gold was applied in every possible form and combination to the decoration and furnis.h.i.+ng of the edifices of Buddhism;--”trees of gold with roots of coral,”[4] flowers formed of gems with stems of silver[5], fringes of bullion mixed with pearls; umbrellas, s.h.i.+elds, chains, and jewelled statuettes[6], are described with enthusiasm by the annalists of the national wors.h.i.+p.

[Footnote 1: Amongst the miracles which signalised the construction of the Ruanwelle dagoba at Anaraj.a.poora was the sudden appearance in a locality to the north-east of the capital of ”sprouts” of gold above and below the ground, and of silver in the vicinity of Adam's Peak.--_Mahawanso_, ch. xxviii. pp. 166, 167.]

[Footnote 2: _Mahawanso_, ch. xxii. p. 153. [Greek]--Iliad, xxiii. 745.]

[Footnote 3: _Mahawanso_, ch. x.x.x. p. 172.]

[Footnote 4: Red coral, equal in its delicacy of tint to the highly-prized specimens from the Mediterranean, is found in small fragments on the sea-sh.o.r.e north of Point-de-Galle.]

[Footnote 5: _Mahawanso_, ch. x.x.x. p. 179.]

[Footnote 6: _Mahawanso_, ib. p. 180.]

The abundance of precious stones naturally led to their being extensively mounted in jewelry, and in addition to those found in Ceylon, diamonds[1] and lapis lazuli [2] (which must have been brought thither from India and Persia) are cla.s.sed with the sapphire and the topaz, which are natives of the island.

[Footnote 1: _Rajaratnacari_, p. 61.]

[Footnote 2: _Mahawanso_, ch. x.x.x. p. 182.]

The same pa.s.sion existed then, as now, for covering the person with ornaments; gold, silver, and gems were fas.h.i.+oned into rings for the ears, the nose, the fingers, and toes, into plates for the forehead, and chains for the neck, into armlets, and bracelets, and anklets, and into decorations of every possible form, not only for the women, but for men, and, above all, for the children of both s.e.xes. The poor, unable to indulge in the luxury of precious metals, found subst.i.tutes in sh.e.l.ls and gla.s.s; and the extravagance of the taste was defended on the ground that their brilliancy served to avert the malignity of ”the evil eye”

from the wearer to the jewel.

_Gilding_.--Gilding was likewise understood by the Singhalese in all its departments, both as applied to the baser metals and to other substances--wood-work was gilded for preaching places[1] as was also copper for roofing, cement for decorating walls, and stone for statuary and carving.[2]