John Bailey

“ Both the terrace which projects in advance of the main building, and the main building itself, are ornamented with carved stone mouldings, below which are groups of figures in bold relief, resting on a lower moulding, designed to represent the up-turned leaves of the lotus. The figures are excellent, and in great variety of attitude. They represent nâtch girls, not oppressed with clothing, who are dancing with great spirit to the energetic music of tom-tom beaters and flageolet players, whose whole souls are in their work. The intense gravity of their faces is admirable ”

“ It is much to be regretted that the rough texture of the stone should be so unworthy of the skill of the sculptor. Had it been executed in white marble, or even in the magnesian limestone which abounds in Ceylon, the effect would have been infinitely more lovely.
Window at Yapahoo. ”

“ Within the mouldings it has been reduced to an uniform thickness of three inches.
The name given to it by the natives exactly describes it, "Siwoomædurukawooloowa," "the perforated palace window." The surface of the slab of stone has been perforated into forty-five rings or circles, which admitted the light into the entrance-hall, somewhat in the fashion of the tracery work at the Tâj at Agra. In each circle is a sculptured figure, and scarcely two figures are alike.
On page 283 is an accurate drawing of this very beautiful window, which is unique of its kind in Ceylon. ”