May 1861.] 



Architectural Remains. 



119 



small stone cells, always made of hewn stone, and sometimes carv- 

 ed with representations of Hindu Deities, hunting scenes, &c. 



33. The most interesting of these are four near Melur on the 

 south side of the hills : the four cells are connected, many of the 

 stones are carved, and upon the back stone of the lowest cell there 

 is an inscription in, I believe, Sanscrit, in Tamil and Canarese 

 characters. 



Round about these cells there are lying carved stones which ap- 

 pear to me to be decisive as to the comparatively modern and 

 Hindu character of the whole 



Temples. 



34. There are no fine Temples in this District : the best are at 

 B a. wan i. — where there are some very good stone equestrian 



figures. 



Kartjr. — Contains nothing of particular interest. 



Perur. — This Temple is within four miles of Coimbatore, and 

 is well worth a visit on account of some very fine stone carvings 

 in the Temple, and a small beautiful Tank outside : the Dwajas- 

 tambam is a very beautiful carved monolith. 



The Gopuram of this Temple was twice struck by lightning ; the 

 last time about 20 years ago, when the Gopuram fell : it is now 

 being rebuilt. 



35. Besides these three there are very many other Temples 

 scattered throughout the District : many of them are in ruins — 

 and with the exception of three cases (Perur, Karur and Tiruma- 

 laikovil,) I am not aware of any effort being made either to pre- 

 serve or re-construct them. 



36. Up to a few years ago the revenues of the Temples were 

 administered by Government Officers. They were then handed 

 over to Trustees selected partly by the people, partly by the Col- 

 lector, and there can be no doubt but that the revenues are now 

 most dishonestly managed : the Temple establishments are not 

 fairly paid, and the buildings themselves are allowed to go to ruin. 



37. I am aware of the objections to the renewal of active su- 

 pervision on the part of Government, but I believe that unless 



