Documento WCP/1/18 - Letter from Ven. W. Subhuti, High Priest, to William Claxton Peppé, 17 June 1898

Letter from Ven. W. Subhuti, High Priest of Waskaduwe Vihara, Kalutara, Ceylon, to William Claxton Peppé in Birdpore, in which he writes that he has received Peppé's letter of 14th. He has heard that the Piprahwa relics and other articles are now 'in charge of Govt' and that Peppé has been allowed to keep some for his own disposal. He has heard of 'false rumours' about the bone relics and therefore has a series of questions to which he seeks answers. He lists five questions about the relics and asks about comparisons with other Buddha relics. Major Dean has written to him about bone relics found by him in a stupa in the Chitral war which he sent to a museum. Dean had also sent him two boxes of ancient Buddhist sculptures found at the same time. He now waits anxiously to receive some bone relics from Peppé. He informs Peppé that Prince Priest Jinawarawansa is now at Buddha-Gaya. Handwritten, 4 sides, dated 17 June 1898.