no 



The Antiquities of the 



[No. 



eight broad ; and another eleven feet high, and twenty -three feet in 

 girth. Some lesser stones yet remain. This circle, when complete, 

 was one of the temples of the Druids, in which their religious rites 

 were performed. 



Boddruddn, or the habitation of the Druids, Trer-Beirdd, or that 

 of the bard, and Bodowyr, or that of the priests, are all of them ham- 

 lets, nearly surrounding the seat of the chief Druid, composing the 

 essential part of his suite. At the last is a thick Cromlech, resting 

 on three stones." 



In describing the Cromlechs of Achenny, I have said that most of 

 them consist of three upright slabs, planted firmly in the earth and 

 supporting a fourth poised on the top of them horizontally. 



Not to trespass on the matter of a paper in this Journal, relative 

 to a Cromlech I found in the low country, I must omit making any 

 more observations on the Cromlechs of Europe, but I have yet to 

 describe a remarkable feature in those of the Neilgherries. Four up- 

 right stones of three Cromlechs have been converted into monuments 

 by a people distinct from the constructors, and are covered with 

 sculptures representing a triumphal procession. The monument of 

 victory of the low country is an upright stone erected by some Hin- 

 doo prince to commemorate a victory gained on the spot, and is or- 

 namented with sculptures and inscriptions. I could detect none of 

 the latter in the present case. 



The following is a description of 



The Sculptures at Achenny, 



First Stone. — There are four lines of figures upon the face of this 

 stone, one over the other, twenty-four in number male and female ; 

 the former brandishing spears, swords and daggers — some have two 

 swords, one in each hand ; the females are represented dancing ; 

 halos cover the heads of many of the figures which are about eight 

 inches high. 



Second Stone, — The sculptures on this monument consist of three 

 lines of figures nineteen in all, including two horsemen with drawn 

 swords ; in the second line is a male form dragging some quadru- 

 ped along by a rope or chain ; female figures also occur. 



Third Stone. — There are two lines of figures on this monument, 

 the males armed as above and their heads surmounted with high co- 

 nical caps, they are placed in niches in the same manner as some of 



