May 1861.] Arichiteciural Remains. Ill 



of pilgrims that flock to the Pagoda, bring each a gift of money 

 according to their means, which funds are fabulously recorded as 

 a re-payment of the nuptial expenses of the idol, with the daugh- 

 ter of the Raja of the neighbouring Naranavaram. The amount 

 of wealth is allowed by all persons, to be enormous , which is in 

 the hands of the priests. The shrine is accordingly kept in pre- 

 servation, and will never require the aid of Government, to pre- 

 serve it from decay. 



6. Velloke. — Fort, is most intimately connected with the past 

 history of this District : it is difficult to assign the antiquity of the 

 whole or portions of it : the original Fort appears to have been on 

 the summit of the adjacent hills, and it is not clear which Fort is 

 referred to, in the old histories. On passing through the one en- 

 trance on the east side, the eye is attracted by the enormous 

 blocks of granite, which form the high walls, and the carvings on 

 the walls of the several gateways are worthy of notice. The prin- 

 cipal object of interest is the ancient Pagoda, converted into an 

 Arsenal. The carvings inside are very fine ; the roof of the shrine 

 on the left of the entrance, is composed of large flags of granite, 

 supported by groups of fine pillars, each carved out of one solid 

 block of stone, and ornamented with open fret-work. At the door, 

 stand two horses with riders, carved with much accuracy of de- 

 sign, and well finished. The mouth of one horse is open, and 

 inside is a ball of stone, larger than the aperture of the mouth, 

 and which has been cut from the solid block of stone. Passing in, 

 on the left of the centre shrine, there is a well sunk to a considera- 

 ble depth, the sides, faced with cut-stone : in this there is a stone 

 door, which turns on a pivot, and admits one to a small square 

 chamber, said to have been formerly used as a Treasure house. 

 The gateway of the high Pagoda is lined with very high stone 

 pillars, of one block of stone each, and the building consists of 

 many stories, as shown by the small windows : flights of steps 

 lead up to the top, but from the darkness and dirt from rats, bats, 

 and pigeons, I imagine no one has reached the top for many years. 



7. Wandiwash. — This old Fort where the French troops made 

 a last rally against the English forces in 1760, has no buildings 

 left in it at all : being a plantation of indigo within the walls ; 



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