Ceylon; an Account of the Island | Page 4

of the Prince Prakrama His character and
renown Immense public works constructed by him Restores the order
of the Buddhist priesthood Intercourse between Siam and Ceylon
Temples and sacred edifices built by Prakrama The Gal-Wihara at
Pollanarrua Ruins of Pollanarrua Extraordinary extent of his works for
irrigation Foreign wars of Prakrama His conquests in India The death
of Prakrama Bahu
CHAP. XII.
FATE OF THE SINGHALESE MONARCHY.
ARRIVAL OF THE PORTUGUESE, A.D. 1505.
Prakrama Baku, the last powerful king Anarchy follows on his decease
A.D. 1197. The Queen Leela-Wattee A.D. 1211. Return of the Malabar
invaders The Malabars establish themselves at Jaffna Early history of
Jaffna A.D. 1235. The new capital at Dambedenia Extending ruin of
Ceylon Kandy founded as a new capital Successive removals of the
seat of Government to Yapahoo, Kornegalle, Gampola, Kandy, and
Cotta Ascendancy of the Malabars A.D. 1410. The King of Ceylon
carried captive to China Ceylon tributary to China Arrival of the
Portuguese in Ceylon

PART IV.
SCIENCES AND SOCIAL ARTS.

CHAPTER I

.
POPULATION, CASTE, SLAVERY, AND RAJA-KARIYA.
Population encouraged by the fertility of Ceylon Evidence of its former
extent in the ruins of the tanks and canals Means by which the
population was preserved Causes of its dispersion--the ruin of the tanks
Domestic life similar to that of the Hindus Respect shown to females
Caste perpetuated in defiance of religious prohibition Particulars in
which caste in Ceylon differs from caste in India Slavery, borrowed
from Hindustan Compulsory labour or Raja-kariya Mode of enforcing
it
CHAP. II.
AGRICULTURE, IRRIGATION, CATTLE, AND CROPS.
Agriculture unknown before the arrival of Wijayo Rice was imported
into Ceylon in the second century B.C. The practice of irrigation due to
the Hindu kings Who taught the science of irrigation to the Singhalese
(note) The first tank constructed B.C. 504 Gardens and fruit-trees first
planted Value of artificial irrigation in the north of Ceylon In the south
of the island the rains sustain cultivation Two harvests in the year in the
south of the island In the north, where rains are uncertain, tanks
indispensable Irrigation the occupation of kings The municipal
village-system of cultivation "_Assoedamising_" of rice lands in the
mountains Temple villages and their tenure Farm-stock buffaloes and
cows A Singhalese garden described Coco-nut palm rarely mentioned
in early writings Doubt whether it be indigenous to Ceylon The Mango
and other fruits Rice and curry mentioned in the second century B.C.
Animal food used by the early Singhalese Betel, antiquity of the
custom of chewing it Intoxicating liquors known at an early period
CHAP. III.
EARLY COMMERCE, SHIPPING, AND PRODUCTIONS.
Trade entirely in the hands of strangers Native shipping unconnected
with commerce Same indifference to trade prevails at this day
Singhalese boats all copied from foreign models All sewn together and
without iron Romance of the "Loadstone Island" The legend believed
by Greeks and the Chinese Vessels with two prows mentioned by
Strabo Foreign trade spoken of B.C. 204 Internal traffic in the ancient
city of Ceylon Merchants traversing the island Early exports from
Ceylon,--gems, pearls, &c. The imports, chiefly manufactures Horses

and carriages imported from India Cloth, silk, &c., brought from Persia
Kashmir, intercourse with Edrisi's account of Ceylon trade in the
twelfth century
CHAP. IV.
MANUFACTURES.
Silk not produced in Ceylon Coir and cordage Dress; unshaped robes
Manual and Mechanical Arts--Weaving Priest's robes spun, woven, and
dyed in a day Peculiar mode of cutting out a priest's robe Bleaching and
dyeing Earliest artisans, immigrants Handicrafts looked down on
Pottery Glass Glass mirrors Leather Wood carving Chemical
Arts--Sugar Mineral paints
CHAP. V.
WORKING IN METALS.
Early knowledge of the use of iron Steel Copper and its uses Bells,
bronze, lead Gold and silver Plate and silver ware Red coral found at
Galle (note) Jewelry and mounted gems Gilding.--Coin Coins
mentioned in the Mahawanso Meaning of the term "massa" (note)
Coins of Lokiswaira General device of Singhalese coins Indian coinage
of Prakrama Bahu Fish-hook money
CHAP. VI.
ENGINEERING.
Engineering taught by the Brahmans Rude methods of labour Military
engineering unknown Early attempts at fortification Fortified rock of
Sigiri Forests, their real security Thorns planted as defences Bridges
and ferries Method of tying cut stone in forming tanks Tank sluices
Defective construction of these reservoirs The art of engineering lost
The "Giants' Tank" a failure An aqueduct formed, A.D. 66
CHAP. VII.
THE FINE ARTS.
Music, its early cultivation Harsh character of Singhalese music
Tom-toms, their variety and antiquity Singhalese gamut
Painting.--Imagination discouraged Similarity of Singhalese to
Egyptian art Rigid rules for religious design Similar trammels on art in
Modern Greece (note) And in Italy in the 15th century (n.) Celebrated
Singhalese painters Sculpture.--Statues of Buddha Built statues Painted
statues Statues formed of gems Ivory and sandal-wood carved
Architecture, its ruins exclusively religious Domestic architecture mean

at all times Stone