THE DEBRIS OF CENTURIES. 307 



priests and Brahmana are plentiful, and seem to lie the 

 principal inhabitants of these ruins. 



The plateau which formed the seat of the ancient city is 

 about two miles long, but although the remains of the 

 causeways and paved streets can still be traced, the houses 

 are level with the ground, and only an occasional stone 

 threshold marks what was once the habitation of man. A 

 few ryots guide their ploughs between the debris of cen- 

 turies, and where they have not cultivated the land it is 

 overgrown with jungle. Numerous large masonry tanks, 

 stone fountains, and reservoirs for water prove the bygone 

 existence of a densely populated city ; and all around the 

 remains of palaces, temples, and towers testify to its past 

 grandeur. 



February 19th. — Most of our servants and luo-o-ao'e 



DO O 



went off on ekkas to Oodeypore last night, and at eight 

 o'clock this morning a carriage of the Maharaja's came to 

 take us. It was drawn by four artillery horses, ridden by 

 their drivers, and under charge of a sub-officer of the same 

 corps. Attired in the undress uniform of a gunner, he sat 

 on the box, and directed the movements of our team. The 

 drivers started by word of command, and after each chang-e 

 of horses received the orders, " Attention," " Trot," 

 "March." At the last stage the horses refused to " trot," 

 or even to " march," and after a short but sharp tussle broke 

 the pole of the carriage. This delayed us about an hour, 



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