Ceylon; an Account of the Island | Page 3

Ceylon described as
Yakkos and Nagas Traces of serpent-worship in Ceylon Coincidence of
the Mahawanso with the Odyssey (note)
CHAP. III.
CONQUEST OF WIJAYO, B.C. 543.--ESTABLISHMENT OF
BUDDHISM, B.C. 307.
Early commerce of Ceylon described by the Chinese Wijayo as a
colonizer His treatment of the native population B.C. 505. His death
and successors A number of petty kingdoms formed Ceylon divided

into three districts: Pihiti, Rohuna, and Maya The village system
established Agriculture introduced Irrigation imported from India The
first tank constructed, B.C. 504 (note) Rapid progress of the island
Toleration of Wijayo and his followers Establishment of Buddhism,
307 B.C. Preaching of Mahindo Planting of the sacred Bo-tree
CHAP. IV.
THE BUDDHIST MONUMENTS.
Buddhist architecture introduced in Ceylon The first dagobas built
Their mode of construction and vast dimensions The earliest Buddhist
temples Images and statues a later innovation First residences of the
priesthood The formation of monasteries and wiharas The first wihara
built Form of the modern wiharas Inconvenient numbers of the
Buddhist priesthood Originally fed by the kings and the people Caste
annulled in the case of priests The priestly robe and its peculiarities
CHAP. V.
SINGHALESE CHIVALRY.--ELALA AND DUTUGAIMUNU.
Progress of civilisation The new settlers agriculturists Malabars
enlisted as soldiers and seamen B.C. 237. The revolt of Sena and
Gutika B.C. 205. Usurpation of Elala His character and renown The
victory of Dutugaimunu Progress of the south of the island Building of
the great Ruanwellé Dagoba Building of the Brazen Palace Its
vicissitudes and ruins Death and character of Dutugaimunu
CHAP. VI.
THE INFLUENCES OP BUDDHISM ON CIVILISATION.
The Mahawanse or Great Dynasty The Suluwanse or Inferior Dynasty
Services rendered by the Great Dynasty Frequent usurpations and the
cause Disputed successions Rising influence of the priesthood B.C. 104.
Their first endowment with land Rapid increase of the temple estates
Their possessions and their vow of poverty reconciled Acquire the
compulsory labour of temple-tenants Impulse thus given to cultivation
And to the construction of enormous tanks Tanks conferred on the
temples The great tank of Minery formed, A.D. 272 Subserviency of
the kings to the priesthood Large possessions of the temples at the
present day Cultivation of flowers for the temples Their singular
profusion Fruit trees planted by the Buddhist sovereigns Edicts of
Asoca
CHAP. VII.

FATE OF THE ABORIGINES.
Aborigines forced to labour for the new settlers Immensity of the
structures erected by them Slow amalgamation of the natives with the
strangers The worship of snakes and demons continued Treatment of
the aborigines by the kings Their formal disqualification for high office
Their rebellions They retire into the mountains and forests Their
singular habits of seclusion Traces of their customs at the present day
CHAP. VIII.
EXTINCTION OF THE GREAT DYNASTY.
B.C. 104 Walagam-bahu I His wars with the Malabars The South of
Ceylon free from Malabar invasion The Buddhist doctrines first formed
into books The formation of rock-temples Apostacy of Chora Naga
Ceylon governed by queens Schisms in religion Buddhism tolerant of
heresy but intolerant of schism Illustrations of Buddhist toleration
Tolerance enjoined by Asoca The Wytulian heresy Corruption of
Buddhism by the impurities of Brahnmanism A.D. 275. Recantation
and repentance of King Maha Sen End of the Solar race State of Ceylon
at that period Prosperity of the North Description of Anarajapoora in
the fourth century Its municipal organisation Its palaces and temples
Popular error as to the area of the city (note) Multitudes of the
priesthood described by Fa Hian
CHAP. IX
KINGS OF THE LOWER DYNASTY.
Sovereigns of the Lower Dynasty, a feeble race Kings who were
sculptors, physicians, and poets Earliest notice of Foreign Embassies to
Rome and to China Notices of Ceylon by Chinese Historians Fa Hian
visits Ceylon A.D. 413 Anecdote related by Fa Hian (note) History of
"the Sacred Tooth" Murder of the king Dhatu Sena, A.D. 459 Infamous
conduct of his son The fortified rock Sigiri
CHAP. X.
DOMINATION OF THE MALABARS.
Origin of the Malabar invaders of Ceylon The ancient Indian kingdom
of Pandya Malabar mercenaries enlisted in Ceylon B.C. 237. Revolt of
Sena and Gutika B.C. 205. Usurpation of Elala B.C. 103. Second
Malabar invasion A.D. 110. Third Malabar invasion Jewish evidence of
Malabar conquest (note)396 A.D. 433. Fourth Malabar invasion The
influence of the Malabars firmly established Distress of the Singhalese

in the 7th century, as described by Hiouen Thsang A.D. 642.
Anarajapoora deserted, and Pollanarrua built The Malabars did nothing
to improve the island A.D. 840. A fresh Malabar invasion The
Singhalese seek to conciliate them by alliances A.D. 990. Another
Malabar invasion Extreme misery of the island A.D. 1023. The
Malabars seize Pollanarrua and occupy the entire north of the island
CHAP. XI.
THE REIGN OF PRAKRAMA BAHU.
A.D. 1071. Recovery of the island from the Malabars Wijayo Bahu I.
expels the Malabars Birth