MANUAL OP THE NILAOIRI DISTRICT. 24l 



Two groups have been entirely destroyed, one a *^ five-celled " CHAP. x. 

 dolmen in the direction of Htilikal Drug-, which has fortunately p^^^^Z^j^y 

 been described by Mr. Walhouse ^ and another near the Kundas. 



FIVE-GELLED DOLMEN 

 former^ £^^isiiri^ 72mt JVids JAtand' JVcla^iris 



As a rule, the cromlechs yield nothing but dHa hotia l-allvs, -contents 



but from those in Major Sweet's plantation some iron and brass 



; armlets were taken by Mr. Breeks, as well as sickles, rings, two 



I small iron hatchet-heads, and a common rough chatty or earthen- 



I ware pot. No bones or charcoal have been found, and it is difficult 



to suppose that the cromlechs were ever intended to be used as 



sepulchres. 



In a work o£ this description it would be out of place to put -origin. 

 forward theories concerning the origin of these remains; indeed a 

 very meagre account of what exists is all that can be attempted. 

 It should, however, be borne in mind that the Todas have been 

 known to claim some of the cairns, though it is impossible to recon- 

 cile their utter apathy when these monuments are disturbed and 

 desecrated with any genuine regard or veneration for them. 

 According to Mr. Metz,the few Todas who have '* maintained that 

 the cairns were the work of their ancestors '' were men who had 

 been examined by Europeans, and who had soon detected what 

 information was desired, regulating their replies accordingly. 

 On the other hand, their present mode of burning and burial in 

 5tone circles (azarams) as well as the conical shape of the Boas 

 [temples) seem to connect them with these remains, which are 

 ^'learly the work of a Turanian people. 

 ; As regards the third class of monuments, none of the present Sculptured 



nhabitants of the Hills are capable of executing sculptures of even cromlechs. 



o elementary a degree of art as those on the cromlechs. The 



Indian Antiquary. 



31 



