458 Voi/cifje of the Novara. 



The Government boat was supplied with everything that 

 could minister to our comfort, a second boat following us 

 exclusively for the conveyance of our heavy baggage, per- 

 sonal effects, tents, and provisions. Towards 2 a.m., we 

 embarked on the Eastern Coast Canal, which goes as far as 

 Sadras, and by which we reached the Seven Pagodas, called 

 alsoMahamalaipuram, the city of the Great or Holy Mountain, 

 at 9 A.M. 



f These singular and majestic specimens of architecture are 

 about 3 miles from Sadras, being situated on the coast north- 

 wards, and about 500 paces from the canal. They consist 



of temples, grottoes, bas-reliefs, cisterns, stone-benches, and 

 thousands of sculptures in long ranges of bas-reliefs, which 

 afford an abundant store of antiquarian research. They go by 

 the name of the Seven Pagodas (from Baghavali — Holy House, 

 whence the European corruption, Pagoda), from the circum- 



