36 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



obliterated, in fanciful tales, at the black pagoda of 

 Juggernaut.* 



On the coast of the Carnatie, eastward to the Bay of 

 Bengal, where several considerable rivers incessantly 

 pour down their tributes of earthy deposit, not only no 

 perceptible extension of the low coast is discernible, 

 but abrasion by surf, and occasional great sea waves, 

 indicate progressive depression. All the streams are 

 barred, and in deep water the currents are violent ; 

 thus, in 1793, the settlement of Coringa, near the 

 mouth of the Cawvery, was overflowed by three succes- 

 sive seas, with most of the lives, houses, and property, 

 swept away. The ruins of Mahabalipuram, at no great 

 distance from thence, better known as the seven pa- 

 godas, once a great and superb city, demonstrate the 

 sinking soil, by several of the temples being either en- 

 tirely, or already partially in conflict with the waves. 

 Annually, immense expense is incurred to defend Ma- 

 dras from the menacing sea ; and even the black 

 pagoda, notorious for the inhuman religious practices 

 in honour of Juggernaut, is threatened with a similar 

 fate ; and Hindoo legends tell of a primeval temple 

 now beneath the sands. 



* Consult Nearchus, Ptolemy Kosmos, Knox t tfpbam, &c. 



