Deciphering Inscriptions. 469 



Mahamalaipuram, and has partly published a translation of 

 them,* told us afterwards, that this renowned Tamil Manu- 

 script consisted of nothing but fables, and did not give one 

 single reliable particular as to the history of the Seven Pagodas. 



In Varaha Swami, one of the pagodas at present in use, 

 and surrounded by a modern walled cemetery, there is visible, 

 on the exterior of the Temple, an inscription in Tamil, which 

 is, however, utterly unintelligible to the natives. This in- 

 scription, deciphered latterly by Babington, refers to a donation 

 to the pagoda by a sincere Hindoo believer, and gives the 

 most complete detail, together with signature of the donor. 

 The name Mahamalaipur,f the *' City of the Sacred Hill," 

 occurs frequently in it. 



In the course of conversation with some of our Hindoo 

 followers, we remarked that they made no difference between 

 a " koviil " or praying-house, in which the divinities are 

 never produced, but are guarded under lock and key, and 

 a pagoda, which is a residence of the gods, from which 

 they can be carried forth and afterwards brought back. 

 Hence it is that a pagoda is more readily accessible than a 

 koviil, the sanctity of which it is forbidden him to violate. 



In 1845, Mr. Elliot, by a private arrangement with the 

 Brahmins, was permitted, on payment of Rs. 30 (£3), to 

 break away the partition which divided the inscriptions into 

 two portions, in order to prepare three copies, and have 



* Journal of the Madras Literary Society, 1846, Nos. 30 and 31. 

 t Dr. Elliot writes Mainallaipiu-am ; the natives call the place Mahawalipm-ain, 

 obviously a'mere coiTuptiou of the customary mode of spelhng. 



