TEMPLES OF CONJEVERAM. 101 



digestive, whilst he appeased his own appetite with a 

 draught of cool water from his lotah. After this 

 important operation, which took place under the 

 friendly shade of a large mango tree, I strolled through 

 the town, consisting of fine broad streets and neat 

 little houses, all decorated with yellow and white 

 stripes, and carved pillars supporting the verandah ; 

 here the natives sat in groups weaving silk and cotton. 

 There were no beggars or other disagreeable sights so 

 common in Indian towns ; all was clean and pleasant 

 to the eye, and the people seemed happy and content. 

 Of the old town, which a thousand years ago had been 

 the capital of the once powerful kingdom of Chola, 

 during its short existence of 150 years, not a vestige 

 remains, excepting its religious monuments. The day 

 was oppressively hot, and I had to walk quite a mile 

 in one direction, and twice that in another, to the 

 celebrated temples. They are the largest I have so 

 far seen, and no one ought to leave the Presidency 

 without paying them a visit ; but strange enough I 

 have met very few travellers who had even heard of 

 their existence. 



The first I came to, dedicated to Seva, was built 

 between the tenth and twelfth century, the most 

 renowned period of the Chalukyas dynasty, which 

 latter, with its capital, KuUianee, about forty miles 



