150 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [June, 



scattered over the Nizam's country. I have, therefore, no hesitation in 

 expressing my belief that the whole of these temples are Bhuddist in 

 origin, although some have been converted into mosques, and others 

 into Hindoo temples. The one converted into a mosque at Dowlatabad, 

 has a large black slab covered with characters in Pelvi ) in excellent 

 preservation, buried in the wall which, if translated, would, no doubt, 

 throw some light upon a subject that at present is doubtful. 



I enclose a few photographs to afford an idea of some of the stone tem- 

 ples to which I refer. Also photographs of the ruins of two monasteries 

 near Sunar and Maiker. A larger camera, with good definition, would 

 have given a clearer idea of these massive structures, as well as of 

 the peculiarities of the carvings in stone of the principal figures. 



As regards the crosses found at Katapur, there can be no doubt that 

 they are more puzzling than the Cromlechs themselves. In noticing 

 them, however, I may observe that, as the Godavery below Badrachul- 

 lam has always been navigable at certain seasons of the year for boats of 

 a particular size, there has always been some communication with the 

 sea coast. If, therefore, there be any foundation for the belief that St. 

 Thomas visited the Mount at Madras, it is reasonable to infer that either 

 that apostle or some of his disciples visited the sea coast near Coco- 

 nada, and made converts to the Christian faith, either at that place 

 or higher up the Godavery. If this could be shewn to be true, 

 no difficulty would be experienced in explaining the origin of the 

 crosses, however strangely situated, it being impossible to believe 

 that heathens would now think of erecting massive stone crosses 

 of the Latin form either as memorials of the dead, or of their own 

 faith. That the converts, if any, were few in number and confined to 

 one locality, may be inferred from the fact that although Cromlechs are 

 found in great abundance on the ridges adjoining the Godavery, as well 

 as upon the undulating land near Hydrabad, crosses of the form 

 to which I have referred, are only found at Katapur and Malin, a few 

 miles west of the Godavery. My own belief is that, if the crosses are 

 not memorials of the faith of Bhuddist converts, they are memorials 

 of the faith of Christian labourers of the early ages of Christianity, 

 or of the Roman Catholic Church at Goa, who died during their 

 ministration on the banks of the Godavery. 



