244 MANUAL OF THE KILAGIRI DISTEICT. 



CHAP. X. The second fort is in the T6dan£d near the Segur Pass and is 

 ANTi'^TiEs. called Mdlekota or old fort. 



• The site of the third, called Udiaraya, is near Kotagiri, but 



although the position is known no ruins remain. 



There is a tradition in the Hills that these three forts were once 

 occupied by three Rajas who ruled over the whole of the 

 Nilagiris, and that they were only strengthened by Haider Ali and 

 used in his wars and subsequently in those of his son. 



In the Kongu-desa Rajakal ^ mention is made of a Nilagiri 

 durga which was taken by Hari-vari-deva, a king of the Chola 

 kingdom, but it is impossible to say if this really applies to one 

 of the forts already mentioned. 



As the architectural remains are closely connected with those of 

 the neighbouring Districts of Coimbatore, I append a memorandum 

 regarding them by Mr. William Fraser, District Engineer, Coimba- 

 tore, (1859). Madras Journal of Literature and Science, May 1860. 



Memorandum on the interesting memorials of antiguity in the 



Coimhatore District ^ 

 The memorials of antiquity in the Coimhatore District, although 

 numerous, are not striking. The very ancient memorials consist of, 

 BO far as I have seen, 



I. Cromlechs, 

 II. Sepulchral tumuli, 



III- Pillar stones, 



IV- Stone circles. 

 The memorials of more modern times are — 



I- Temples, 



II. Forts, 

 III- Palaces, 

 lY- Rock inscriptions, 



V. Manuscripts. 



2. As I am unacquainted with Indian antiquities, I have 

 designated these remains by the names given to similar objects 

 in other countries. These names are probably correct, for no one 

 who is acquainted with Celtic antiquities can fail to be struck with 

 the similarity between them and the ancient remains scattered over 

 this district. 



Cromlechs. 



3. Some of the cromlechs I have seen in this district are similar 

 to those found in Ireland : three or more stones placed upright, and 

 over them a large flat stone placed so as to form a small rudo chamber. 



» Madras Lit. Journal, No. 32, 1847. 



- Mr. Fraser's remarks on stone circles are confined to those on the Nilagiris 

 and contain nothing of importance. The remarks on the other memorials, rock 

 iaacriptions excepted, are also not note-worthy. — Ed. 



