Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c38.7

c38.7

PLATE IV.
1. Kinnara caste weavers of Dumbara mats. On the left a woman seated on a paddy-pounder (mortar for husking rice), spinning the fibre; on the right a man also spinning, his back towards the *pila*, or narrow verandah of the hut; in the centre a boy weaving, in the act of drawing weft fibres through the warp. For description see pp. 243, 244. Photo by SKEEN & Co.
2. Platform prepared with figures of *yakshas* and planetary deities for a *bali* ceremony. The names of those represented, from right to left, are Senasurāgē Ērāṣṭakaya, Vavul Rākshaya, Esvaha Baliya, Guruḷu Rākshaya; the next conspicuous head is the ‘*kibihi*’ of a *makara toraṇa*, beneath which is an Irugē Rūpaya, and above it, Vesamunu Divya Rāja; and next in order to the left, but scarcely seen, Prāṇa Maṅgalya (?), Skanda Divya Rāja, Daśakroḍaya Rāja and Irugē Ērāṣṭakaya. The picture is shown here to illustrate the existence of a plastic art in impermanent materials. Further references will be found on pp. 148, 177, 252, 259.
3. Damascener (*riḍi-keṭiyan-kārayā*) at work, inlaying a handle-rose with silver wire (Pērādeṇiya Exhibition, 1906).