1853.] Notes on the Ruins at Mahabdlipuram. 661 



mostly close to the principal caves, which are in the northern half of 

 the range. In the same vicinity is a somewhat remarkable mono- 

 lith ; a mass of living rock left isolated, and artificially fashioned 

 outside, as well as inside. It appears to be above twenty-five feet 

 in height, the same in length and about half in breadth. It has a 

 long roof curved like a Gothic pointed arch, and gabled at each end. 



The walls are of great thickness, so that the interior cell is small : 

 it contains a lingam, and among the sculptures on its walls, appears 

 the figure of Ganesh in small dimensions. Its door faces the "West : 

 and close to it the Brahmins are quarrying the rock, to repair and 

 beautify the interior of the brick pagoda ; the only one in which 

 the ceremonials of worship are performed, at the present day. 



At the extreme south of the ridge, and separated from it by a 

 small level space, along which runs the lower road from Madras to 

 Cuddalore, stand a group of monoliths, seven in number, surrounded 

 by a grove of cocoanut trees.* Five of them are pagodas ; of which 

 the most southern (measured by Mr. Goldingham forty feet in 

 height) resembles in general outline a Mussulman mausoleum. 

 Another twenty-five feet in height, and perhaps fifty in length, has 

 a long Gothic roof as previously described, and is ornamented on 

 the outside : the other three are more like modern pagodas. The 

 two remaining rocks are fashioned to imitate an elephant and a lion, 

 in colossal proportions. All these monoliths, though close to the 

 sea beach, and perfectly exposed, are comparatively fresh in their 

 outline, and exhibit very little signs of corrosion. They are com- 

 posed of this same binary granite, and I think we may thence con- 

 clude their comparative antiquity not to be very great. 



There still remain twof temples, differing from the former in being 

 built, instead of hewn in the solid rock. The first, already alluded 

 to, stands near the village on the level ground not far from the prin- 

 cipal caves, and is of brick, plastered and coloured in the modern 

 style. It is of considerable size, and is still used for purposes of 

 worship, and for the accommodation of Hindu travellers. The 

 brahmins enjoy some revenues attached to the building, and are 

 busily engaged ornamenting and improving it : all which circum- 



* Or else — palmyras : my recollection on this point is indistinct. 

 f I have been told of a third farther north, but did not see it. 



4 q 2 



