Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c34.4.5

c34.4.5

*Method of tying books.* For an early representation of a book apparently tied as here described see Arch. Onderzoek op Java en Madura, 1: Tjandi Djago, Pl. 3 (Çyāmatāra). P. 53. *The King's letters.* "In those letters or dispatches which were sent by the King to the Dutch Government, the monarch seemed particularly anxious to display his magnificence in the richness and splendour with which they were executed. The writing was enclosed in leaves of beaten gold in the shape of a cocoa-tree leaf. This was rolled up in a cover richly ornamented, and almost hid in a profusion of pearls and precious stones. The whole was closed in a box of silver or ivory, which was sealed with the Emperor's great seal" (Percival, ‘Account of Ceylon,’ 1805, p. 206). P. 54. *Caste.* For interesting mythical accounts of caste, see the Janavamsa, translation by H. Nevill, Taprobanian, Vol. I., 1886. P. 55. *Koṭṭalbadde Nilame.* Knox tells a romantic story of a European who entered the King's service for love of a Sinhalese woman, and was made ‘Courtalbad’ (Koṭṭalbadde Nilame), ‘which is chief over all the Smiths and Carpenters in Cande Uda’ (‘An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, p. 181). P. 56. *Rewards of Craftsmen.* It is mentioned in the Dambulla gal-sannasa that Vimala Dharma Sūrya II., upon the occasion of fixing a bell on the rock in front of the Mahārāja Vihāra at Dambulla, rewarded the artificer, Mahena Galladdā, with an amuṇam of land and 200 fanams in money. P. 59.