EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



19 



About five miles to the north of the city, the Cavery is di- Paocda of Sf.- 



R I \ G H \ ".'I 



vided by the illand of Seringbam^ one part of wliich is fo near 

 to T'ritcbinopoly, that the (hot of the Englip and French have in- 

 terfedled each other from their refpedive batteries. Tlie illand 

 is celebrated for its two Pagodas, That known by the name 

 of the ifland is perhaps the moft famed of thofe ai Hindoojlan, 

 for its fanclity, magnitude, and vaft refort of pilgrims to pay 

 worfliip to the very image of the great Vichenou^ the object 

 of adoration of the god Brahma, I can only touch inci- 

 dentally on tlie mythology of the warm-fancied Hindoojlans. 

 I leave that in general, and the various incarnations, to ftronger 

 heads than ray own, which can bear to unfold the deep al- 

 legories and myfteries. My weak brain turns round at 

 the very attempt, and my very dreams are horrible, in° 

 fefted by the monftrous affumptions of this changeable fu- 

 preme *, 



Mr. Orme, vol. i. p. 178, gives a moft exa(5t defcription of Described, 

 the facred retreat : " It is compofed of feven fquare inclofpres 

 << one uithin the other, the walls of which are twenty-five feet 

 *' high, and four thick. Thcfe inclofures are three hundred 

 " and fifty feet diftant from one another, and each has four 

 " large gates with a high tov\'er, which are placed one in the 

 <' middle of each fide of the inclofure, and oppofite to the four 

 " cardinal points. The outward wall is near four miles in cir- 

 ^^ cumference, and its gateway to the fouth is ornamented with 



* Co;ilult Qur learned and able coiinci'vman the Reverend Thomas Maurice, wiio has ex- 

 haufted the fubjeit. Alfo ths ingenious Sonnerat-, vol. i. p. J 5 1, of his travels. 



D s " pillars. 



