["This mountain [Adam’s Peak] abounds with rubies of all kinds and other precious stones.  These gems are being continually washed out of the ground by heavy rains, and are sought for and found in the sand carried down the hill by the torrents.  It is currently reported among the people, that these precious stones are the congealed tears of Buddha.” (Ma-Huan, transl. by Phillips, p. 213.)

In the Chinese work Cho keng lu, containing notes on different matters referring to the time of the Mongol Dynasty, in ch. vii. entitled Hwui hwui shi t’ou ("Precious Stones of the Mohammedans”) among the four kinds of red stones is mentioned the si-la-ni of a dark red colour; si-la-ni, as Dr. Bretschneider observes (Med.  Res. I. p. 174), means probably “from Ceylon.”  The name for ruby in China is now-a-days hung pao shi, “red precious stone.” (Ibid. p. 173.)—­H.C.]

[1] The old Tamul alphabet has no sibilant.

CHAPTER XV.

THE SAME CONTINUED. THE HISTORY OF SAGAMONI BORCAN AND THE BEGINNING OF IDOLATRY.

Furthermore you must know that in the Island of Seilan there is an exceeding high mountain; it rises right up so steep and precipitous that no one could ascend it, were it not that they have taken and fixed to it several great and massive iron chains, so disposed that by help of these men are able to mount to the top.  And I tell you they say that on this mountain is the sepulchre of Adam our first parent; at least that is what the Saracens say.  But the Idolaters say that it is the sepulchre of SAGAMONI BORCAN, before whose time there were no idols.  They hold him to have been the best of men, a great saint in fact, according to their fashion, and the first in whose name idols were made.[NOTE 1]

He was the son, as their story goes, of a great and wealthy king.  And he was of such an holy temper that he would never listen to any worldly talk, nor would he consent to be king.  And when the father saw that his son would not be king, nor yet take any part in affairs, he took it sorely to heart.  And first he tried to tempt him with great promises, offering to crown him king, and to surrender all authority into his hands.  The son, however, would none of his offers; so the father was in great trouble, and all the more that he had no other son but him, to whom he might bequeath the kingdom at his own death.  So, after taking thought on the matter, the King caused a great palace to be built, and placed his son therein, and caused him to be waited on there by a number of maidens, the most beautiful that could anywhere be found.  And he ordered them to divert themselves with the prince, night and day, and to sing and dance before him, so as to draw his heart towards worldly enjoyments.  But ’twas all of no avail, for none of those maidens could ever tempt the king’s son to any wantonness, and he only abode the firmer