!838.] 



a scoriadeous char acier found mar Bellary, 



131 



" This singular mound has a curious cineritious appearance, widely , 

 different from the ferruginous hue of the surrounding hills, that strikes 

 the travellers eye from some distance. It has been thought, by most 

 people who have seen it, to be of volcanic origin, though I am not 

 aware what grounds they go on. 



" My examination it must be confessed was a very short and hasty 

 one, but it appeared to me rather to be the remains of some ancient 

 furnace. There was no appearance of a crater. 



" The traditions of the natives affirm that the ashes are the burnt 

 bones of an enormous Racsasa, whose funeral pile this was ages ago. 



" There are two collection of ashes, similar to these in composition, 

 to be found at the foot of the Copper Mountain near Bellary; the shape 

 of which indicates their having been the work of arc. They are much 

 smaller, not conical, but scattered about, and piled into the form of an 

 enclosure ; the dimensions of one of which were about 35 yards by 30. 



" The ashes of all effervesce with dilute sulphuric acid, indicating 

 the presence of carbonate of lime. 



" I should have conjectured that they had formerly been furnaces 

 for the burning of lime, but Captain Lawford of the Engineers tells 

 me no such ashes are formed by the lime kilns now in use. The 

 natives have no account of them beyond the tradition I have just men- 

 tioned ; so they must be of considerable antiquity. They say such 

 ashes are now formed by burning dead bodies." 



Subsequently Lieutenant Newbold transmitted the following legend, 

 obtained from a native, as the Hindu history of the Bellary mound 

 " Boody Canaway v^difi the place of abode of a giant, called Edimhau- 

 aoorah. It is said in the Mahahharat that, about five thousand years 

 ago, five princes, namely, Durmarajah, Bheemasainah, Arjoonah, Na- 

 koloc and Sahaudavah, sons of Pandoorajah^ came to this spot on their 

 way to a place of pilgrimage, and halted there one day and night. 

 The giant sent his sister to enquire who they were; she accordingly 

 visited these princes and fell in love with Bheemasainah, and never re- 

 turned to her brother the giant. On this, Edimbausoorah, greatly 

 afflicted at her not returning, set out to look for her. He discovered 

 the princes and his sister conversing, and approached them in order to 

 kill and devour them. Bheemasainah, who was most valiant, advanced, 

 fought the giant, and killed him at that place, and the remains of his 

 body, are said to compose this rock. It is also said that the teeth of 

 this giant are to be seen upon the mountains of Chiltledroog." 



