74 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



The Brahmen before mentioned informed me, that 

 their Pur anas contained no account of any of the 

 ftructures here defcribed, except the ft one pagodas near 

 fhefea, and the page das of brick at the village, built by 

 the Dherma Rajah, and his brothers: He, however, 

 gave me the following traditional account: That a 

 northern prince (perhaps one of the conquerors) about 

 one thoufand years ago, was defirous of having a great 

 work executed, but the Hindu fculptors and mafons 

 refufed to execute it on the terms he offered: Attempting 

 force I fuppofe, they, in number about four thoufand, 

 fled with their effe&s from his country hither, where 

 they refided four or five years, and in this interval ex- 

 ecuted thefe magnificent works. The prince at length 

 difcovering them, prevailed on them to return, which 

 they did, leaving the works unfinished as they appear 

 at prefent. 



To thofe who know the nature of thefe people, this 

 account will not appear improbable. At prefent we 

 fometimes hear of all the individuals of a particular 

 branch of trade deferting their houfes, becaufe the 

 hand of power has treated them fomewhat roughly; 

 and we obferve like circumstances continually in mi- 

 niature. Why the Brahmens refident on the Spot keep 

 this account fecret I cannot determine; but am led to 

 fuppofe they have an idea, the more they can envelope 

 the place in myStery, the more people will be tempted 

 to yifit and investigate, by which means they profit 

 considerably. 



The difference of ftyle in the architecture of thefe 

 Structures, and thofe on the coaft hereabouts, (with ex- 

 ceptions to the pagodas of brick at the village, and 

 that of (tone near the fea, both mentioned in the Pu- 

 tanas, and which are not different,) tends to prove 

 that the artiSts were not of this country; and the 

 refemblance of fome of the figures and pillars to 

 thofe in the Elephanta Cave, feems to indicate they 

 were from the northward. The fragments of bricks, 



at 



