PAGODA AT PERWUTTUM. 305 



meaning of them, being, they faid, Sanfcrlttum Jigum. 

 The fame ignorance of the language of their religions 

 books, feems to prevail through all thefe countries. 

 The Brahmens in attendance here, are relieved at 

 itated times, from Autcowr and other places, as this 

 place is unwholefome and the water bad. One of 

 them faid, he had books at Autcowr, explanatory 

 of the hiiiory of the Pagoda, and of the figures carved 

 on the walls. Though they had never heard that any 

 European had been here before, they did not expreis 

 any furprife at this vifit. Some of them applied for 

 medical aid, but no fever prevailed among them at that 

 time. 



During the troubles of Sevi-row, the Chinfuars 

 occupied the Pagoda, who ftripped it of fome orna- 

 ments and damaged it. Since Sevi-row had fubmitted 

 the revenues derived from the refort of pilgrims, are 

 collected for the canoul circa r by a manager or aumil- 

 dar, who refides within the enclofure, as do the 

 febundies and peons, Rationed here to protect the pil- 

 grims, who come from all parts at certain ftated 

 feitivals. 



The red colour, that predominates in the rock of 

 this country, (which is a granite,) is very remarkable. 

 The fuperfiratum, which, in many places, forms 

 the naked fuperfiees of the foil, is of a black co- 

 lour, and from the fmooth fhining furface it frequently 

 exhibits, appears to have been formerly in a ilate 

 of fulion, but goes to no great depth ; the next lira- 

 turn is compofed of grains of a reddifh colour, mixed 

 with others of a white fhining quartz, in greater 

 proportion and of a larger lize, 4o as to give the ftone, 

 when quarried, a greyifh coloiir, which is more ob- 

 fervable after it has been cut or chilleled. Iron is 

 found in feveral parts of this mountainous trace, and 

 fo are diamonds, but the labour is fo great, and the 

 chance of meeting with the veins fo very uncertain, 



that 



