Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c34.4.6

c34.4.6

*Names of artificers.* At Dēvanagala, the gal-vaḍuva has recorded his name and village in a rock inscription (Bell, Kēgalla Report, p. 59). P. 60. *Social position of craftsmen.* The following story affords some evidence on this point: the son of the deported king, Vijaya Bāhu (afterwards Śrī Parākrama Bāhu VI., who reigned at Koṭṭe, 1415—1462 A.D.), in order that he might escape the messengers of Alakeśvaraya, was placed in the joint charge of the gamarala of Polvatte near Ambuḷugala, and of a blacksmith. "At night," says the Rājāvaliya, "he would go to the house of the gamarala, but in the daytime used to play with the child of the blacksmith. . . . In this manner the prince lived till he attained the age of sixteen." —*The King's smiths.* The craftsmen here referred to are not the paṭṭal hatara men, but those who work for the tenants of royal villages (manors): “In each of these Towns there is a Smith to make and mend the Tools of them to the King hath granted them, and a Potter to fit them with Earthenware, and a Washer to wash their Cloaths, and other men to supply what there is need of. And each one of these hath a piece of land for this their Service” (Knox, p. 44).