CATALOGUE OF THE SINHALESE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM

BY
DON MARTINO DB ZILVA WICKREMASINGHE
EPIGBAPHIST TO THE ARCHIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE CEYLON GOVERNMENT

AUTHOE’S PEEFACE.

The present collection of Sinhalese MSS., with the exception of five MSS. acquired from Sir Hans Sloane’s Library, and two contained in the Old Eoyal Library, have been collected in the ordinary course, by purchase and presentation.

With regard to the plan on which this Catalogue is arranged, it is enough to say that the system adopted in previous Museum catalogues of Oriental manuscripts has been followed, with such modifications as were found necessary in the present case.

In classifying the manuscripts I have adopted a plan suitable to a literatui-e which consists chiefly of interpretations of Pali and Sanskrit works, religious or otherwise. The system of transliteration followed here is that adopted in the recent Oriental catalogues, with certain variations and additions which will be seen on reference to the annexed table.

It may perhaps be mentioned that, with the exception of Westergaard’s descriptions of the forty-two Sinhalese manuscripts in the Royal Library of Copenhagen,* the present Catalogue is the first published catalogue of its kind, although some of the libraries in Ceylon and in Europe possess valuable collections of Sinhalese manuscripts.

In conclusion, I beg to acknowledge the assistance I have received in compiling this Catalogue from Professors C. Bendall and J. P. Blumhardt, as well as from the Eev. G. Margoliouth and Messrs. A. Gr. Ellis and P. H. M. Corbet.


DON M. DE ZILVA WICKREMASINGHE.
British Museum,
December, 1899.