Evening journal., 1897-07-29
CONTEMPORARY OPINION

THE BURIED CITIES OF CEYLON.
1t may be still counted among things
not generally known that in the luxur-
liant forests of Ceylon the ruins of
cities are concealed not inferior in
boldness OF conception and richness of
design to any in the world They lie in
the northern half of the island, almost
buried among vegetation, and in some
cases still difficult of access. They
We're visited and described by Sir EN-
merson Tenant in his classic work on
Ceylon, In which also several small IL
Illustrations were published, and from
time to time they have received notice
from other travellers, but now many of
the most remarkable ruins are accu-
rately depicted In the reproductions of
photographs which adOrn H. w. Caves
new volume on the Ruined Cities of
CeylOn." They have been smitten I'm by
gone ages by the fury of conquerOrs:
they have suffered yet more severely
from lthe hand of time. Trees have
taken root on walls and roofs and have
wrenched them asunder; the rank for
est vegetation, has buried ornamental
carvings and sculptured figures. Yet
what remains is wonderful and what
would reward excavation may be easily
inferred.
The ruins belong to very varied daItes;
some going back towel, before the
Christian era, others to three or four
centuries after it, while one very beau
tlful and extensive group belongs main
ly, If not wholly TO a comparatively
late period in Singhalese prosperity,
the middle of the twelfth century.
Their connection with Buddhism is
very close, the most conspicuous re-
mains at bhe present times being COM
monty temples, monasteries and daga-
bas-huge, dome-like structures which
i'm magnitude are not unworthy rivals
of the Pyramids of Egypt.
One of the most remarkable of the
groups or ruins is Miminta,e, The noun
tain city. A rocky mass arises abruptly
from the plain to height Of 900 feet.
The slopes are now covered with dense
forest from the base almost to the Top,
except on the space where a gigantic
stairway of granite slabs leads up to
the summit. This might well be Iiaken
for a part of the natural hill; in reality
it is a huge ruined edifice the remnant
OF a dagaba, in the construction of
which millions of bricks have been en-
ployed Near IL are other dagabas of
great size, and, besides these, rock-cut
chambers and many other remains of
the ancient monastery. The city is as
sociated with sacred memories in the
history of Ceylon Here IT was that the
nation, in the third century before
Christ, adopted Buddhism. GOtama
himself is said to have visited the
island. the inhabitants of which were
then snake worshipers, and to have
converted the king. On a second visit
he left mis- footprint on the rock as he
rose into the air from the summit Of
Adams Peak. But this sign is appro-
priated as is we'll known, by the fol-
lowers CT different creeds to diverse
personages. The Mohammedans al
tribute it to Adam; the Portuguese
Christians were divided in opinion as
to whether it had been left by St.
Thomas or by the eunuch of Candace
Queen Of the Philippians. Indeed. some
critics go so far as to doubt whether
Buddha ever visited CeylOn at ALL
whatever may be the origin of the foot
print.-LOndon Standard.