Harry Charles Purvis Bell
Encyclopedia
Harry Charles Purvis Bell (1851 – 1937), more often known as HCP Bell, was a British civil servant, a commissioner in the Ceylon Civil Service
. Appointed an official archaeologist, he carried out many excavations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
), for the Archaeological Survey, during an appointment running from 1890 to 1912
After retirement, he also investigated the archaeology and epigraphy of the Maldives
, (see Evolution of the Judiciary in the Maldives
), where he had been earlier in life and studied the linguistics of Divehi. Bell had developed a good friendship with the king of Maldives, who put his own royal schooner
Fath-ul-Majid at his disposition to carry archaeological research in certain atolls south of Male'.
Ceylon Civil Service
The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, originated as the elite civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule in 1833 and carried on after independence, until May 1, 1963 when it was abolished and the much larger Ceylon Administrative Service was...
. Appointed an official archaeologist, he carried out many excavations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
), for the Archaeological Survey, during an appointment running from 1890 to 1912
After retirement, he also investigated the archaeology and epigraphy of the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, (see Evolution of the Judiciary in the Maldives
Evolution of the Judiciary in the Maldives
The Judiciary in the Maldives has been a systematic institution throughout the history of the nation. It has ever been an institution which is under the full control of the Head of State and it is still so, to some degree. However a radical change occurred during the past decades...
), where he had been earlier in life and studied the linguistics of Divehi. Bell had developed a good friendship with the king of Maldives, who put his own royal schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Fath-ul-Majid at his disposition to carry archaeological research in certain atolls south of Male'.
Works
- The Máldive Islands: An account of the Physical Features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883
- The Máldive Islands. Monograph on the History, Archæology, and Epigraphy with W. L. De Silva, Colombo 1940.
- Excerpta Maldiviana, Colombo 1940.