ADAM'S PEAK. 107



have preBented a noble appearance. Captain Forbes is
of opinion, that the temple was about 30 feet in height
from the topmost platform; and that it consisted of pillars
supporting a cornice, the plan appearing to be as if eight
ornamented pilasters projected two on each side from a
plain square pillar. Excepting as to the height, which,
including the basement wall, now scarcely exceeds fifteen
feet, the description he gives of the plan of the temple is
correct. The carvings in the stones are deep, and tlie
mouldings project out boldly. These are all covered with
delicate floral tracery, which must have required great
manipulative skill on the part of those who had to execute
it. The walls of the two terraces below harmonlae with
that on which the temple stands; the whole having evidently
been designed by an architect of no mean ability. It is
however questionable whether it was ever finally completed.
Betvycen the two lower walled terraces an unwalled one
intervenes, and from the number of blocks of stone lying
about, some in a rough, and others in a half finished
state, it seems probable that the work was stopped when
near its completion, owing to the struggles with the Portu-
guese and the domestic wars in which the king was engaged
previous to his death,* and the determination of his successor



* Tbe local tradition is, that the works were stopped at the time wh«n
Kunappu Bundara raised an army, and advanced against the king with
a view to his overthrow. This happened while R&ja Siyha was engaged
in bcseiging the Portuguese in Colombo, he having (leturmined upon



108 ADAM'S PEAK.
