Of the ultimate history of this renowned jewel we have no authentic narrative; but it is stated in the Chinese accounts of Ceylon that early in the fourteenth century an officer was sent by the emperor to purchase a “carbuncle” of unusual lustre.  “This served as the ball on the emperor’s cap, and was transmitted to succeeding emperors on their accession as a precious heirloom, and worn on the birthday and at the grand courts held on the first day of the year.  It was upwards of an ounce in weight, and cost 100,000 strings of cash.  Every time a grand levee was held during the darkness of the night, the red lustre filled the palace, and it was for this reason designated ’The Red Palace-Illuminator.’”—­Tsih-ke, or Miscellaneous Record, quoted in the Kih che-king-yuen, Mirror of Science, b. xxxiii. p. 1, 2.]

[Footnote 7:  The port and harbour of Point de Galle.]

“The island has also a community of Christians[1], chiefly resident Persians, with a presbyter ordained in Persia, a deacon, and a complete ecclesiastical ritual.[2]

[Footnote 1:  Nestorians, whose “Catholicos” resided first at Ctesiphon, and afterwards at Mosul.  VINCENT, Periplus, &c., vol. ii, p. 507.  For an examination of the hypotheses based on this statement of Cosmas, see Sir J. EMERSON TENNENT’S History of Christianity in Ceylon, ch. i.]

[Footnote 2:  [Greek:  “Leitourgiat,”] literally liturgy; which meant originally the pomp and ceremonial of worship as well as the form of prayer.]

“The natives and their kings are of different races.[1] The temples are numerous, and in one in particular, situated on an eminence[2], is the great hyacinth, as large as a pine-cone, the colour of fire, and flashing from a distance, especially when catching the beams of the sun—­a matchless sight.

[Footnote 1:  [Greek:  Allophuloi].]

[Footnote 2:  Probably that at Mihintala, the sacred hill near Anarajapoora.]

“As its position is central, the island is the resort of ships from all parts of India, Persia, and Ethiopia, and, in like manner, many are despatched from it.  From the inner[1] countries; I mean China, and other emporiums, it receives silk[2], aloes, cloves, clove-wood, chandana[3], and whatever else they produce.  These it again transmits to the outer ports[4],—­I mean to Male[5], whence the pepper comes; to Calliana[6], where there is brass and sesamine-wood, and materials for dress (for it is also a place of great trade), and to Sindon[7], where they get musk, castor, and androstachum[8], to Persia, the Homeritic coasts[9], and Adule.  Receiving in return the exports of those emporiums, Taprobane exchanges them in the inner ports (to the east of Cape Comorin) sending her own produce along with them to each.

[Footnote 1:  [Greek:  “ton endoteron,”] the countries inside (that is to the east) of Cape Comorin, as distinguished from the outer ports ([Greek:  ta exotera]) mentioned below, which lie west of it.]