Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c14.41

c14.41

is laid on the importance of removing stones and potsherds, poisonous roots and creepers, otherwise disease and death will follow. 215—223. Of five divisions of a land (*Nanda, Bhaddra, Jaya, Rikta, Parna*), and the three parts of each, making fifteen in all, and of the results of building on one or the other of these parts. 224—227. Of the portent of various plants growing on the site. Iron in the soil will lead to death. 228—232. Classification of lands into seven kinds. 233—255. Of other sorts of land according to shape, colour of soil, etc., thus: (240) “What would befall a man who should build a house on land of the hue of gold and graphite? He will have gold, silver, iron and riches. (241) The man who chooses land free from stones to build a house will have cattle and no sickness, it has many virtues profitable to all. (243) Land that is wet at the time when there is no rain is bad. O sir! if a house be built then, it will be involved in sickness night and day.” 256—260. Of various trees which should be removed before building. The holes made by their removal are to be filled with earth from another place, and the house may be built a year, or six months later.
261. Apparently an old proverb. “If any person build a house in the middle of a village he will become the chief of the clan (*kulaya*); many who have not seen the ślokas of *Mayamataya* do not believe it.” 262—268. Further mention of lands of different colours or having certain plants growing on them. Of good fruit trees. Of other auspicious and inauspicious trees, thus:
(266) “All such fruits as jak and coconut, mango, *damba*, sugarcane and mandarins grown on the land about the house are of excellent flavour”; (but v. 268 mentions mangos amongst trees which should be removed). 68—271. Of white-ant hills. Contradictory views of different *rishis* are mentioned. 272—281. Of levelling the ground and the results. Further warning against ant hills. Do not build on a graveyard. Of auspicious plants.
283. Colophon. “In the year 1759 of Śaka era, when the sun was in the ‘Scales,’ on the fifteenth day of the month; in this year was the śloka book taken by me, and this book of 281 verses finished.”