JOURNAL 



OF THE 



ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 

 CEYLON BRANCH. 



TIRUKKE'TPSVARAM, MAHA'TTRTHA, 

 MATO'DDAM, OR MA'NTODDAI. 

 By W. J. S. BOAKB, ESQ., CCS. 

 (Bead November 7, 1887.) 



OTHING remains above ground of this ancient city 

 except a few fragments of sculptured figures, broken 

 tiles, bricks, and pieces of pottery. Its site is 

 entirely overgrown by low dense jungle, the only large trees 

 being a few tanaku and baobab. Indications may still be 

 seen of the old streets, and there are two or three old wells. 



The foundations of a brick building, somewhere about the 

 centre of the hill, on which I believe the greater part of the 

 city stood, are pointed out as those of the palace ; and the 

 entrance of the temple is said to have been near the old well 

 marked on Plan II. 



The Plans which accompany this Paper will give an idea 

 of the locality. The city was built upon a hill, and the 

 natural height of the ground was increased by the excavations 

 necessary to form tanks : or, perhaps, it is more correct to say 

 that the spur of the hill on which the resthouse stands was 

 thus formed. 



Tradition says that the city extended to the seashore, and 

 that a considerable part of it is submerged. I have not been 

 83—88 B 



