58 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, [Feb. 



stones round each, but stand out in high relief, and have never been 

 covered with earth or stone. [In the centre of the lithogram, Mr. 

 Frecth has given a sketch of these interesting structures, and I have 

 also the pleasure of forwarding for submission to the G-overnment,colored 

 drawings of the group and of each separately executed by the same 

 officer.] 



12. These Cromlechs were quite empty and the largest, measured 

 inside, is 7 feet three inches long, by 6 feet high and 5 feet wide. The 

 superincumbent slab was 11 feet 8 inches long, by 8 feet wide. These 

 Cromlechs were evidently not used as tombs, and I am strongly of 

 opinion that they must have been altars. The sun was the most 

 ancient universal object of idolatrous worship, and the moon also 

 received the early veneration of mankind ; and placed as these struc- 

 tures are, in high relief, on the summit of a rocky hill, they would 

 appear fit places for those anniversary fires and sacrifices, in which the 

 earlier races of man delighted. 



13. It might be interesting and of use to trace the names by 

 which these monuments of an unknown race and of pre-historic times 

 are known in different parts of India. In Coorg they are called 

 Pandupdrre, or the stone of the Pdndus, and also Pundera mane 

 or house of the Pdndus. These two words must not be con- 

 founded with each other. The Pdndus are the descendants of the 

 celebrated five brothers, whilst the Punddrus are a legendary pig- 

 my race, who are popularly supposed to have occupied these rude 

 structures. In the Malayalum language, which bears a strong affinity 

 to the Coorg dialect, the term used is Panduporre, though such 

 structures have not been found in the Malayalum country. The word 

 povve means a small hut ; in Tamil pore also means a large stone. 

 In the Canarese language these antique structures are often called 

 Manddvdra mane, derived from the Sanscrit, and signifying the houses 

 of the dead. 



The President said that the jaw, alluded to by Lieut. Cole, un- 

 fortunately never came to hand. He hoped that it had not been lost in 

 transmission by post, and that it may soon be recovered. The following 

 letter has been received by him (the President) from Mr. Bowring, 

 regarding that gentleman's recent visit to some of the places where 

 numerous Cromlechs are situated. 



