106 



Architectural RemuitiB. [No. 11, new series. 



on the 15thVisakha of Pramadi year of the Era of Salivahana 1441, 

 corresponding to the year 1520 of the Christian Era. 



Karanams. 

 (Signed) Vaintapaeti Pitchaya, 

 ( „ ) Kaeanam Naeasimmultj, 

 ( „ ) N. Subba Ratj, Peshkdr. 



(True Copy.) 



(Signed) H. Seintvasa Rati, 

 Tahsilddr. 



The Fort on Udiagiri Drug. 



This Mountain is a very extraordinary one, standing out about 

 10 or 12 miles to the east of the line of Mountains dividing Cud- 

 dapah from Nellore. The height of the crown varies from 1,800 

 to 2,800 feet above the sea, and it has been, and in fact is, a place 

 of great strength. About 9-10ths of the hill is rendered inacces- 

 sible, except by the three or four paths communicating with the 

 low country, by precipices varying from 400 to nearly 1,000 feet in 

 height, and every path is defended by several lines of fortification, 

 aided by horse-shoe towers, which, built upon every rock command- 

 ing the roads or rather steps, render it a very formidable place to 

 attack. The northern part of the hill is lowest, and on this side 

 is the principal approach, which consists of a flight of steps, run- 

 ning along the face of a deep ravine, and commanded by several 

 towers and many lines of rampart and bastion. Within the forti- 

 fications is a small village. The southern or highest part of the 

 hill is connected with the northern by a narrow way flanked on 

 either side by precipices, with very precipitous paths to the low 

 country on the east and west sides, and here again the fortifications 

 are very numerous though not in such good repair as on the north. 

 This southern hill is the highest, and from within the fortifications 

 which enclose it, there is only one path to the low country, con- 

 structed almost entirely in masonry steps along the face of the 

 precipices on the west side. This stair-case is a most extraordinary 

 work, taking advantage of every mass of rock which could give it 

 some support and zigzagging along and under overhanging cliffs 

 many hundred feet high, while the sheer drop from the edge of the 



