Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c22.25

c22.25

Beside the smiths of the royal manors, who should probably be included under the *Koṭṭal-badda* group of state craftsmen (p. 55, above), there were the king’s craftsmen working in the Four Workshops; and the smiths who were tenants on private manors, or tenants of religious foundations. The last named owed service rent to the proprietors, of which services examples may be quoted. Thus, at Nāyakumbura, Mātale North, tenants held lands from the Dambulla Vihāra; the services, commutable for the considerable sum of Rs. 54·20, were to supply the vihāra with nails and keys at the Nānumura Maṅgalya; to give one *vahun-keṭṭa* and five *hiramana* (kitchen knives and rasps), iron being supplied; to give thirty days’ work in iron; to appear before the incumbent at the Old and New Year and eat each time, to give him six arecanut slicers and chisels or some such small articles, and the same to the Vidāne; to give fourpence as *sīvurumila*; to contribute one day’s share to the *dan-kada* in common with the other *paṅgu* of the village (Lawrie’s Gazetteer, p. 638).