Note descriptive ot the Kllustrations on the Cover.
By GERARD A, JosEPH, Librarian, Colombo Museum, and Joint
Honorary Secretary, Ceylon Branch, Royal Asiatic Society.
THE front page represents the style of doorway to be found in the
ancient Buddhist temples of Ceylon. The monster on the top, together
with the figures supporting it, is called a makara torana : makers meaning
- monster,” and torana ¢ arched gateway ’ or ‘ portal.” It is said to represent
the flag raised by Deva Pajjunna on the day that Gautama attained Buddbahood.
 The flag is called wakaradhrajaya. The makara is supposed to be
a fabulous amphibious monster, usually taken to be the shark or crocodile,
but depicted in the signs of the zodiac with the head and forelegs of an
antelope’ and the body and tail of a fish.
The figures on the two sides of the makara represent the assembly of
gods (Indra, Brahma, Vishnu, &amp;c.) gathered together to pay theirrespects
to Gautama when he was born. The garunda and the white elephant are
shown as “the vehicles of the gods.” In some temples there will be found
figures of more gods alongside the makara turand : this depends.on the
amount of space available for the purpose.
The two figures at the base are doratupdlas (gate-keepers).
The rest of the pictorial representation is merely ornamental, depicting
the typical style found in temples.
The illustration inside the front of the cover shows the stately Talipot,
or great fan-palm, Corypha wmbraculifera, in blossom, This tree always
presents a grand and imposing appearance, and has been called the “ queen
of palms.” It growsto a height of about 100 feet and accumulates strength
for nearly half a century, then in a gigantic final effort blossoms, and thereafter
 dies. The mass of flower forms one majestic pyramid of snowy
plumes of sweet scent. The spike which supports the blossoms rises from
the middle of the leafy crown of the plant, sometimes to a height of about
20 feet, forming a glorious object, and is generally visible to travellers
along the Colombo and Kandy Railway. The Talipot palm of Ceylon is
notable for the variety of uses to which its leaves are put. The leaves being
of immense size and palmate (with the blade attached near the middle),
they are easily formed into fans and umbrellas ; they are also utilized for
thatching purposes. As regards their use for ancient books, see Zennent,
quoted at page 172.
The illustration inside the back of the cover is of a model (exhibited in
the Colombo Museum) of the Dalada, or Sacred Tooth of Buddha, enshrined
‘n the Dalada Maligawa at Kandy ; it will be found referred to on page 33.
The faces at the top of the doorway which serves as a framework to a
view of the sea coast showing the palm-fringed shore, on the back of the
cover, represent the sun and moon (ira-handa), and are probably intended
to indicate that the temple, or the gift of it, was to remain *‘ as long as the
sun and moon shall last”