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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