46 '[No 30. 



Supplement by W alter Elliot Esq. 

 Besides the objects of interest usually visited at the Seven 1 

 Pagodas, there is a spot about two miles north of Maha- j 

 inalleipur, the sculptures and inscriptions at which will be 

 found not unworthy of attention. Proceeding along the sea 

 shore towards Madras, at the distance above mentioned, a 

 quadrangular space inclosed by mounds of considerable ex- 

 tent, No. 3 1 in the map, called by the fishermen Devandri, 

 will be observed. From the appearance of these mounds, 

 added to the fact that numerous copper coins, glass-beads, j 

 and bits of Iron, copper, &c. are picked up after heavy rain \ 

 or high winds on their surface, it might be supposed that 

 they indicated the site of some ancient edifice or fortification : 

 but an excavation made in 1840, completely thro' one side, 

 failed to elicit any discovery in support of such an opinion. 

 The section was carried, through pure sand, to a depth of 20 

 e feet, and the only extraneous substances met with were some • 

 pieces of charcoal, at different depths. 



About quarter of a, mile farther, near a collection of fish- 

 ermens' huts, called Sdlvan-cuppam, are some remarkable 

 rocks, standing a considerable height above the beach, and 

 known by the name of Idian Padal. One of these exhibits 

 a niche or pannel, surmounted by an arched border composed 

 of the heads of the Sinha, or fabulous lion of Hindu mytho- 

 logy, carved in relief ; while another has been rough-hewn 

 into the outline of the same animal. Beyond this is a Stone 

 Mantapam, or temple, almost entirely buried in the sand. 

 Within is a Lingam. This is the site of the inscriptions re- 

 ferred to by Dr. Babington, in the £d Vol. of the Transactions 

 of the Royal Asiatic Society, as having been sent to him by Col. 

 DeHavilland. Of these Nos. 1 and 2 of plate 15, pronounced 

 by Dr. Babington to be identical, are engraved on the end 

 walls of the Mantapam on either hand of the entrance. On 

 the frieze above the entrance likewise, occurs the word, 

 in each of the two characters deciphered by Dr. Babington, 



ff ATIRANACHANDAPALLAVA." 



