“On Monday, the fourth day of the solar month Vrishchika, two officers came and accompanied us in boats to the great vihara called Talarama, which is built on the bank of the river. Here we worshipped before the golden image of the Buddha and the dagabas, and made offerings of robes and the priestly necessaries to the priests who had been appointed to proceed to Ceylon. These were Upali Maha Nayaka Thero, Arya Muni Maha Nayaka Thero, the Anu Mala Thero, the Maha Thero who read the Kanumavacha and who prepare for ordination, and the Maha Theros Indrajocassa, Chandra Jo assa, Kotthita, Kiyavu, Bojuna, Thuluvan, Thonsuvannana, Janna, Prakyavuthan, Lokon, Da ut, Premak, Premi, Kruyakya, being twenty-one Theros and eight Samaneras. After this we were taken back to our halting-place.
On the morning of Thursday two officers came and took us to the palace. We halted for a short time at a mandape while our arrival was being announced, after which we were presented and received with great kindness by his majesty the king, the prince, and the subking we were informed that the presents destined for Ceylon would be ready to start in a short time and then were given permission to withdraw, when we returned again to the same mandape for a short interval. And this was the manner of our departure there from. From the palace gate and as far as the landing-place at the river bank the two sides of the street were decorated with cloths embroidered with gold, various scented flowers and fruits, and examples of the painter's skill. Next, heralded by the five kinds of music, came the royal message carried in a gold litter on either side of which were held gold-worked sesat and flags. A new golden image of Buddha came next borne in like fashion and accompanied by sesat, chamaras, gold-worked flags, and music.
The sacred books and various offerings followed, guarded on either aide by a band of warriors armed with the five kinds of weapons. Upali Maha Thero came next, carried in a palanquin curiously worked with gold, and followed by many offerings next was Arya Muni Maha Thero in similar state. These two were accompanied by the other Theros and Samaneras destined for Lanka, all of whom had been presented with various gifts a band of warriors followed them preceding the presents that were to be sent to Lanka which were conveyed in gilt chests. Three officers had been appointed to proceed to Lanka as ambassadors, and numerous honours had been conferred on them. Two of them came next in two litters shaped like beds and richly adorned with ornaments of solid gold. These were carried on the shoulders of men, while the third rode behind on a richly caparisoned horse. We who had been gazing at this rare sight with delight, were now directed to enter the horse carriages in which we joined the procession. The gorgeous decorations on either side of the road, the viharas and crowds of priests, the masses of men, women, and children gay in jewels and gold, who thronged to gaze at us, cannot be described in words.
We proceeded thus as far as the river, lost in admiration at the splendour of the crowded street. Here we found awaiting us the royal barges, decked with the heads of lions, bears, elephants, kinduras, makaras, crocodiles, serpents buffaloes, deer, peacocks, parrots, pigeons, dragons, and rakshas whilst in the intervals were carved trees, creepers, and plants, all gilt. On their decks were constructed booths of gold-worked cloths gaily adorned, and similar curtains were hung around, while various, flags and umbrellas were fixed at stem and stern. On board these barges were conveyed the image and books and royal message as well as the priests.
The king, the royal queens, the sub king, the princes, as well as the nobles with their wives, accompanied us in similar boats after them came a host of devotees of either sex and of citizens in boats in an unbroken stream, the boats being secured in rows by cables so as to move in line. In various boats dancing and singing were going on, while numerous drums kept up a continuous volume of sound. Thus we proceeded down the river till we reached the large new ship, which with its gilding within and without appeared like some ship of the gods. This was the vessel destined by his majesty for the use of the priests who were sailing for Lanka. So on Thursday, the first day of the increasing moon of the month II, about ten hours after dawn, the sub-king bore the golden image reverently on his own bead within the ship, and placed it on a throne surrounded by gold embroidered hangings of various colours the holy books and the king's message were similarly disposed of, and the presents and offerings were stowed away. The priests were then taken on board amidst cries of "Sadhu" and the firing of guns and the accompaniment of music, and were followed by the three Siamese ambassadors who were proceeding to Lanka accompanied by many presents. A message was also conveyed to us from the king, giving us permission to depart and also directing that Wilbagedara Muhandiram Rala alone, who was well known to the Thero and ambassadors - he had been to Siam on a previous occasion - should travel in the Siamese ship. The rest of us were also requested to go on board the ship, but as the number of the Siamese attendants and the quantity of their baggage was great, we were to continue our journey by the Hollander's ship. Three Siamese nobles were also ordered to accompany us as far as the seaport of Siam.”
