Route across India through Egypt to England. 449 
it was about five feet long, with a large iron knob at one end of 
it. In the centre of one of the circles we came to a flight of se- 
ven steps, which led to a cave excavated in the rock; it mea- 
sured Sia feet in diameter and seven feet in its highest part ; 
the entrance to it was a square opening of about eighteen inches, 
which was closed up by an immense block of granite. We found 
in this place a great number of earthen pots of very curious shape; 
in one of these were the remains of bones which appeared to have 
been but imperfectly calcined ; in several of the larger jars there 
were the husks of rice, which dropped into dust immediately they 
were opened. We found here also an iron tripod, and a very curious 
stone somewhat similar to what the Indians now use for grinding 
their curry-powder on. The large stones forming the circles were 
set upright and capped with still larger ones. They are not of 
granite, but of the stone of the country in which they are situated ; 
they are of different sizes ; | have seen some of them ten or Eee 
feet high, and the large stone on the top from ten to twelve feet in 
diameter, or perhaps more. Coimbatore is a district situated be- 
tween the Coromandel and Malabar coasts ; it is bounded on the 
east by the river Cavery, on the banks of which the tumuli are 
in general situated. In some a few silver coins have been found 
of asquare figure with characters on them, which none of the most 
learned Bramins have been as yet able to take out; it is in these 
also, that remains of very large swords, &c. have béen found. 
The Roman coins to the number of 90 were all of gold, and Nero’s; 
each of them had a cut or slit in it; they were not found in one 
of these barrows, but were discovered in a garden by owe of the na- 
tives when digging ; they werein a small copper pot. Pandu kuri 
literally means Pandu’s caves or holes. Pandu isa very celebrated 
personage in the Hindu mythology, anda great warior; it is com- 
mon in India to ascribe to him all great works of antiquity: this 
term, therefore, only shows that these places are very ancient, and 
that the PrRpeHe inhabitants are quite Jenokant of their origin. 
~ LXXUL Mae. respecting New pce 
Journal of a Route across India through Egypt, to England in 
the latter End of the Year 1817 and. the “Beginning of 1818. 
By Lieut. Col. FirzCiarence. 4to. with Plates, pp. 526. 
Tus well written, interesting work is not a mere journal 
of stages and distances. It embraces many details respecting 
late military transactions in India, in some of which the author 
was personally concerned in the course of his route ; enlightened 
views respecting the line of policy pursued in the maintenance of 
our eastern possessions ; allusions to the history and policy of 
former conquerors and sovereigns in that quarter ; geographical 
Vol. 35. No. 254. June 1819. Ff - divi- 
