Dec. 1861.] 



Dniidic Antiquities. 



207 



In beauty and capacity this Cromlech must greatly resemble the 

 one I discovered at Palicondah. 



The first sketch in the opposite page represents a remarkable 

 and unusual description of Cromlech in the province of Malabar 

 described to me by an eye-witness. These curious edifices are 

 found surmounting the undulations of the country between Calicut 

 and Paulghautcherry, especially near Ungadapooram and Mun- 

 gary, at no great distance from the high road. They consist of a 

 pedestal composed of three long stones slightly tapering towards 

 the top, with their exterior surfaces rounded. These stones are 

 fitted closely together, and form the frustrum of a cone. Poised 

 on the top of them lies horizontally an immense oval or circular 

 stone, its exterior surface being convex, while the inner is slightly 

 hollowed. I was told by the person who described these Crom- 

 lechs to me, that one was opened by a Collector many years ago 

 with much difficulty, when pieces of earthern ware urns, iron 

 spear heads, and some gold ornaments were discovered. 



In my account of the Cromlech at Palicondah, I stated my be- 

 lief, that the ceremonies performed at such consecrated fanes were 

 a perversion from the Patriarchal religion of sacrifice by fire on 

 stone altars I am confirmed in this opinion by what is stated in 

 the fourth, fifth, and sixth verses of the xxiv Chapter of Exodus. 



" And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early 

 in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve 

 pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel." 



" And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which of- 

 fered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto 

 the Lord." 



'* And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons ; and 

 half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar." 



I have observed that the interior walls of some of the Indian 

 Cromlechs are scored with rude representations of human figures, 

 and unintelligible marks ; in which respect they may be compar- 

 ed with Saint Illtyd's house at Llanamllech in Brecknockshire, 

 Wales, which is a Cistvaen, or Cromlech, seated on an eminence 

 at a short distance from the village. This Cromlech consists of 



