200 



who is said to have been the first author of sun worship.* If the 

 inscribed tablet preserved at Vasu Paduka be rightly explained, 

 these towers are 2300 years old.-f- 



The Hindoos on the eastern coast of the Indian peninsula are said 

 to be free from mixture with Mahometanism, and to practise their 

 old religion with all its superstitions ; and that in consequence 

 pagodas are more numerous in the Rajahmundry, and the neigh- 

 bouring circars, than elsewhere ; and it is remarkable, that in this 

 district they vary from the pyramidal form commonly adopted in 

 other parts of Hindostan, being here round towers, " either pointed 

 or truncated at the summit, and ornamented with something excen- 

 trical, but frequently a round ball stuck upon a spike; this ball 

 seems intended to represent the sun, the deity of the place."]: 



Let old Hanway, so often quoted by writers on this subject, add 

 his testimony, and in his own words, as they are stronger than some 

 antiquarians seem willing to allow. 



" Sari,§ was built by the ancient Persians, and there are yet 

 four temples of the Gebres, or fire worshippers, who formerly 

 inhabited all this coast: it seemed inconsistent that the Persians 

 suffered these temples to remain unmolested after the abolition of a 

 religion, which they now esteem grossly idolatrous, but they are made 

 of the most durable materials. These edifices are rotund, of about 

 thirty feet in diameter, raised in height to a point, near an hundred 

 and twenty feet high."|| 



* Indian Antiq. VI. p. IQ'i, 



f Franklin's Enquiry, p. 23. 



J Pennant's View of Hindostan, II. p. 127. 



§ The capital of the Persian province of Mazanderan. Near this city of fire- worshippers is 

 shewn a tumulous tomb of Sohraub, who was killed by his father Bustam. Travels in the East, 

 III. 265. 



II Han way's Travels, II. p. 234. Dublin Octavo Edition, 1754. 



