Volume 1 / Part 3 — CHAPTER I.
Reading edition
SOURCES OF SINGHALESE HISTORY—THE MAHAWANSO.
Ceylon formerly thought to have no authentic history 311
Researches of Turnour 312
Biographical sketch of Turnour (note) 312
The Mahawanso 314
Recovery of the "tika" on the Mahawanso 315
Outline of the Mahawanso 315
Turnour's epitome of Singhalese history 316
Historical proofs of the Mahawanso 317
Identity of Sandracottus and Chandragupta 318
Ancient map of Ceylon (note) 318
List of Ceylon sovereigns 320
CHAP. II.
THE ABORIGINES.
Singhalese histories all illustrative of Buddhism 325
A Buddha 325
Gotama Buddha, his history 326
Amazing prevalence of his religion (note) 326
His three visits to Ceylon 327
Inhabitants of the island at that time supposed to be of Malayan type 327
Legend of their Chinese origin 328
Probably identical with the aborigines of the Dekkan 328
Common basis of their language 328
Characteristics of vernacular Singhalese 329
State of the aborigines before Wijayo's invasion 330
Story of Wijayo 330
The natives of Ceylon described as Yakkos and Nagas 331
Traces of serpent-worship in Ceylon 331
Coincidence of the Mahawanso with the Odyssey (note) 332
CHAP. III.
CONQUEST OF WIJAYO, B.C. 543.—ESTABLISHMENT OF BUDDHISM, B.C. 307.
Early commerce of Ceylon described by the Chinese 335
Wijayo as a colonizer 336
His treatment of the native population 336
B.C. 505. His death and successors 336
A number of petty kingdoms formed 337
Ceylon divided into three districts: Pihiti, Rohuna, and Maya 337
The village system established 337
Agriculture introduced 338
Irrigation imported from India 338
The first tank constructed, B.C. 504 (note) 338
Rapid progress of the island 339
Toleration of Wijayo and his followers 339
Establishment of Buddhism, 307 B.C. 340
Preaching of Mahindo 340
Planting of the sacred Bo-tree 341
CHAP. IV.
THE BUDDHIST MONUMENTS.
Buddhist architecture introduced in Ceylon 344
The first dagobas built 345
Their mode of construction and vast dimensions 346
The earliest Buddhist temples 346
Images and statues a later innovation 347
First residences of the priesthood 347
The formation of monasteries and wiharas 348
The first wihara built 349
Form of the modern wiharas 349
Inconvenient numbers of the Buddhist priesthood 350
Originally fed by the kings and the people 350
Caste annulled in the case of priests 351
The priestly robe and its peculiarities 351
CHAP. V.
SINGHALESE CHIVALRY.—ELALA AND DUTUGAIMUNU.
Progress of civilisation 352
The new settlers agriculturists 352
Malabars enlisted as soldiers and seamen 353
B.C. 237. The revolt of Sena and Gutika 353
B.C. 205. Usurpation of Elala 353
His character and renown 353
The victory of Dutugaimunu 354
Progress of the south of the island 355
Building of the great Ruanwellé Dagoba 355
Building of the Brazen Palace 356
Its vicissitudes and ruins 357
Death and character of Dutugaimunu 358
CHAP. VI.
THE INFLUENCES OP BUDDHISM ON CIVILISATION.
The Mahawanse or Great Dynasty 360
The Suluwanse or Inferior Dynasty 360
Services rendered by the Great Dynasty 360
Frequent usurpations and the cause 361
Disputed successions 361
Rising influence of the priesthood 362
B.C. 104. Their first endowment with land 363
Rapid increase of the temple estates 364
Their possessions and their vow of poverty reconciled 364
Acquire the compulsory labour of temple-tenants 365
Impulse thus given to cultivation 365
And to the construction of enormous tanks 365
Tanks conferred on the temples 365
The great tank of Minery formed, A.D. 272 365
Subserviency of the kings to the priesthood 366
Large possessions of the temples at the present day 366
Cultivation of flowers for the temples 367
Their singular profusion 367
Fruit trees planted by the Buddhist sovereigns 367
Edicts of Asoca 368
CHAP. VII.
FATE OF THE ABORIGINES.
Aborigines forced to labour for the new settlers 369
Immensity of the structures erected by them 370
Slow amalgamation of the natives with the strangers 370
The worship of snakes and demons continued 370
Treatment of the aborigines by the kings 371
Their formal disqualification for high office 371
Their rebellions 371
They retire into the mountains and forests 372
Their singular habits of seclusion 372
Traces of their customs at the present day 373
CHAP. VIII.
EXTINCTION OF THE GREAT DYNASTY.
B.C. 104 Walagam-bahu I 374
His wars with the Malabars 374
The South of Ceylon free from Malabar invasion 374
The Buddhist doctrines first formed into books 375
The formation of rock-temples 376
Apostacy of Chora Naga 376
Ceylon governed by queens 377
Schisms in religion 377
Buddhism tolerant of heresy but intolerant of schism 378
Illustrations of Buddhist toleration 377
Tolerance enjoined by Asoca 377
The Wytulian heresy 377
Corruption of Buddhism by the impurities of Brahnmanism 380
A.D. 275. Recantation and repentance of King Maha Sen 380
End of the Solar race 381
State of Ceylon at that period 381
Prosperity of the North 381
Description of Anarajapoora in the fourth century 382
Its municipal organisation 382
Its palaces and temples 382
Popular error as to the area of the city (note) 383
Multitudes of the priesthood described by Fa Hian 384
CHAP. IX
KINGS OF THE LOWER DYNASTY.
Sovereigns of the Lower Dynasty, a feeble race 385
Kings who were sculptors, physicians, and poets 386
Earliest notice of Foreign Embassies to Rome and to China 387
Notices of Ceylon by Chinese Historians 387
Fa Hian visits Ceylon A.D. 413 387
Anecdote related by Fa Hian (note) 388
History of "the Sacred Tooth" 388
Murder of the king Dhatu Sena, A.D. 459 389
Infamous conduct of his son 391
The fortified rock Sigiri 392
CHAP. X.
DOMINATION OF THE MALABARS.
Origin of the Malabar invaders of Ceylon 395
The ancient Indian kingdom of Pandya 395
Malabar mercenaries enlisted in Ceylon 395
B.C. 237. Revolt of Sena and Gutika 395
B.C. 205. Usurpation of Elala 396
B.C. 103. Second Malabar invasion 396
A.D. 110. Third Malabar invasion 396
Jewish evidence of Malabar conquest (note)396
A.D. 433. Fourth Malabar invasion 397
The influence of the Malabars firmly established 398
Distress of the Singhalese in the 7th century, as described by Hiouen Thsang 399
A.D. 642. Anarajapoora deserted, and Pollanarrua built 400
The Malabars did nothing to improve the island 401
A.D. 840. A fresh Malabar invasion 401
The Singhalese seek to conciliate them by alliances 402
A.D. 990. Another Malabar invasion 402
Extreme misery of the island 402
A.D. 1023. The Malabars seize Pollanarrua and occupy the entire north of the island 403
CHAP. XI.
THE REIGN OF PRAKRAMA BAHU.
A.D. 1071. Recovery of the island from the Malabars 404
Wijayo Bahu I. expels the Malabars 405
Birth of the Prince Prakrama 405
His character and renown 405
Immense public works constructed by him 406
Restores the order of the Buddhist priesthood 406
Intercourse between Siam and Ceylon 406
Temples and sacred edifices built by Prakrama 407
The Gal-Wihara at Pollanarrua 407
Ruins of Pollanarrua 408
Extraordinary extent of his works for irrigation 409
Foreign wars of Prakrama 409
His conquests in India 410
The death of Prakrama Bahu 410
CHAP. XII.
FATE OF THE SINGHALESE MONARCHY.
ARRIVAL OF THE PORTUGUESE, A.D. 1505.
Prakrama Baku, the last powerful king 411
Anarchy follows on his decease 411
A.D. 1197. The Queen Leela-Wattee 412
A.D. 1211. Return of the Malabar invaders 412
The Malabars establish themselves at Jaffna 413
Early history of Jaffna 413
A.D. 1235. The new capital at Dambedenia 413
Extending ruin of Ceylon 414
Kandy founded as a new capital 414
Successive removals of the seat of Government to Yapahoo, Kornegalle, Gampola, Kandy, and Cotta 415
Ascendancy of the Malabars 415
A.D. 1410. The King of Ceylon carried captive to China 416
Ceylon tributary to China 417
Arrival of the Portuguese in Ceylon 418