oct. — mae. 1858-59.] Fort and Temple at Vellore. 



275 



now to be seen in the Arsenal and which he called " Telecau- 

 teserai." 



After a period of 25 years (1390) ? the Fort was nearly complet- 

 ed, when Kistna Deva Rayah, king of Anaygoondy in Mysore 

 invaded the Carnatic, took possession of all the fortified places, 

 and amongst others of Vellore Fort where he fixed his throne. 

 He erected the Rajmahal and other buildings, and sunk a tank 

 called Sooriag oonta,* (reservoir tank) also a wellf in the pagoda 

 surrounded by a stone choultry as an offering to his god. 



Moreover he made a canalf from the Palar river to supply the 

 wellf with water : he reigned about fifty years. 



Kistnajeeamah, his wife, established a pettah, and built two saw- 

 my Pagodas on the bank of the Palar river about one mile from 

 Vellore. 



His brother, Ganaput Royal, built the fort of Arnee by the same 

 workmen who made the plan for the fortification of Vellore. 



On Kistna DevaRayel's decease, his brother Atchoota Rayel suc- 

 ceeded him on the throne, and built a Rajmahal at Chanderna. 

 gherry. 



After the demise of Atchoota Rayel, Ram Rayel his brother was 

 placed on the throne. 



By reference to several books of Gentoo poems, now in posses- 

 sion of several inhabitants here, it will be seen that the descendants 

 of the Rayels reigned in this as well as in Mysore and other coun- 

 tries (about 200 years ago), and that after that they were succeed- 

 ed by the Mahrattas. 



Shahoo Raja a Mahratta king entered into the Carnatic with his 

 army, and took possession of Vellore and other forts where he 

 found much treasure. He built several hill forts, on various spots 



* This tank which is more than 150 yards square is still in existence, 

 and contains a sufficiency of water to supply the Fort for 2 or 3 years 

 to which it is conveyed by pipe, it is about 800 or 1000 yards south of 

 the Fort. 



f This well in the pagoda is also in perfect repair, and there is every 

 reason to believe that the communication with the river here mentioned, 

 was actually made as there is a constant flow of clear spring water into 

 it. The river is distant about a mile and a quarter north. 



