428 REMARKS ON SOME ANTIQUITIES ON THE 



wliich feems obferved in moft of the fculptures on 

 Hindu buildings. Among the figures carved on the 

 outer walls the Lingam is frequently exhibited. On 

 the weft fide of the fquare is another longer portico, 

 having a number of Itatues, of another chief and his 

 followers, placed on a raifed (lone terrace, on either 

 fide of the covered paflage leading to the inner gate. 



The guardianfhip of the facred ifle is in a family of 

 Byraagees (devotees), the chief of which is doomed to 

 perpetual celibacy ; the fucceffion being carried on by 

 the fillers, or the collateral branch, who only are per- 

 mitted to marry. This arrangement feems to have 

 fome affinity to that of the Travancore and t^air fove- 

 reigns. The prefect guardian is a child of fix or feven 

 years old; of a handfome mild afpett, and regular fea- 

 tures; his drefs and turban were of the Byraagee, tawny 

 red colour, and decorated with the beads that this clafs 

 af mendicants wear. This young pontiiF received the 

 European vifitors, after landing, with great gravity and 

 compofure: his uncle, who v. as the efficient minifter, 

 attended and ftood by his feat, to affifl him in paying 

 his compliments to his guefts. From this pagoda a low 

 ira£l of fandy ground ftretchcs out towards the eaft to 

 about twelve miles; terminating in a narrow fpit of 

 fand. Within a mile of the point is the choultry of 

 Tona-goody*^ a fquare of low houfes inclofing a court, 

 built tor the accommodation of the pilgrims who came 

 to this furtheil point to perform their ablutions in the 

 waves of the ocean, this being held one of the moft fa- 

 cred and pureft ablutions required by their religion. 

 A Brahmen refidqs at this chouhry. A pole is eretled 

 on the point, to which lights are affixed at night ; whe- 

 ther for the direction of mariners, or a religious mo- 

 tive, we could not learn The whole of this traft from 

 Ram'tferum has the appearance of being waffied by the 



* Goody alfo fignifies a temple in the T<;/w«/ language; Totiy fignifies 

 water. It is remarkable that good water is found on this point, though 

 the fpit of fand is lb low. 



fca. 



