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110
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL, 1909.
MISCELLANEA. AN ACCOUNT OF THE RUINS OF TOPARY impossible to say. On cach side of the steps (POLONNARUWA IN 1820).
which conduct to the four doors of the temple (Reprinted from a communication from Lieut.
stands the female figure that guards the entrance Fagan to the Ceylon Government Gazette
of most of the Kandian temples, covered nearly
to the knee with rubbish; this figure must be of Tuesday, August 1st, 1820.)
apwards of 5 feet high, and is shaded by a hood WHEN I was near Topary, a number of stone of Cobra Capellas, of superior sculpture and pillars standing in the jungle a short way elegance of attitude to any I have seen, and on on the left of tho road attracted my atten. the pedestals on each side of the steps and on tion. I hastened to examine them and, on a several stones lying around the same reptile is nearer approach, was surprised by the cut in relief coiled up in different attitudes and appearance of the ruins of an elegant cir- of fine workmanship; the walls of the temple, cular building of red brick; and at a short although interlaced with the Indian fig-tree, are distance on the right another building of in great preservation, the bricks, which compose massive proportions and of the same materials, them, are of well burnt red earth, each heaps of ruins, pillars, brick abutments and measuring 12 inches by 7 and 1) thick, disposed fallen walls appeared through the jungle in all with about th of an inch of chunam between directions. The circular building was, I think, them, and the layers, being quite even, look as once a temple, open above. I ascended to if the plaster had just been stripped off.. a platform of about 15 feet wide and 5 high, by Twenty yards to the right stands the other six stone steps. The platform is rounded and brick ruin, of an oblong form about 56 feet long faced with a wall of brick and has a coping and by 30 in breadth and 33 feet high, the wall brick cornice of cut stone, most of which is still and 5 feet thick throughout. The principal standing. From this platform six steps more entrance is a square ftone frame not large, lead to another, about 7 feet wide, and fuced all situated in the west front, and on one side of it round with cut stone in square panels, divided is a massive brick pillar that has been highly by small pilasters. Ornaments in relief are ornamented and on which, I conjecture, was once cut on the panels, but now worn away and a statue; its fellow has fallen down and nearly indistinct, it is edged like the first with choked up the doorway. Climbing over the a cornice of stone and mouldings. Within this rubbish, I entered a vestibule about 10 feet and rising from a ledging of cut stone 4 feet square, having a small door on each side, and high and 3 broad, stand the walls of the temple, a brick roof of a conical form, thence passing a perfect circle about 20 feet high and 2) thick, through a high door I entered the principal with a bandsome cornice of brick encircling the apartment, now choked up with rubbish and top. The whole appears to have been coated brick-work. I think it is full 30 feet high, the with fine plaster, small parts of which still roof is an arch of brick about 4 feet thick, but adhere. I examined closely but could not neither of the Gothic or Roman pitch; the best discover the smallest appearance of its ever way I can describe it is by supposing an egg-shell having had a roof. Corresponding exactly with cut lengthwise, when the small end being held the four cardinal points, are the remains of four up will give the section of this roof; it has doors, to each of which there is an ascent by a nothing of the dome in its form, but is thrown flight of steps similar to that already described. over like a tilt and the end walls are built up to The interior circumference measures five paces meet it; about half has fallen in. In each of exactly and in the centre riaes a mound of earth the side walls of this apartment is an arched and ruins, in the middle of which is a square pit, window about 5 feet high and 3 wide and three 4 feet wide, lined with brick, and nearly filled stone bare running from top to bottom and at with loose bricks and jungle. On the band or the far end and fronting the place I entered is a footing of cut stone that runs round the base niche cut in the wall, and under it the ruins of of the wall, stand a number of small stone pillars an altar ; I saw four sitting figures of Budhoo without capitals, about 5 feet high and 4 feet amongst the rubbish, rather under the human asunder; they appear to have been ranged in size, the features decayed and worn away. The order from door to door, and bear marks of end and sides of this building had highly having been highly ornamented. The door ornamented fronts, portions of which have still frames, I suspect, have been taken away; judging, withstood the ravages of time, each front had however, by the openings, they were abont 4 to a pediment and cornice, supported by small 5 feet wide, but whether arched or square it was pillars rising from the moulding of the surbase,
