Art. XIX.—Sinhalese Copper-plate Grants in the British Museum

Abstract

There are three Sinhalese sannas (grants of land) on copper-plate amongst the Sinhalese MSS. of the British Museum, catalogued under the press-marks Add. 11,555 a, b, and c. The sannas were presented to the British Museum by a Mr. J. Barlow Hoy as long ago as the 30th of March, 1839. But who Mr. Hoy was and how he got them I have not been able to find out. The two marked b and c are neatly engraved on smooth rectangular copper-plates, measuring by 2⅛″ and 12⅜″ by 2″ respectively, leaving in each, case a margin on the obverse side to the left, in which the royal symbol Çrī, signifying prosperity, is cut in large type. The other sannasa (a) is ornamented with a plain silver border running round the rectangular plate of copper, 16⅜″ by 3″ in size. The letters are well cut, with, kuṇḍali flourishes at the beginning and end of each line. On the left of the obverse is the usual margin, which is here separated from the text by a thin silver band right across the plate, so as to receive a large-sized Çrī engraved boldly.