136 



The Antiquities of the 



[No. 32, 



Rock Basins 



have been excavated. Dr. Borlase considers the rock basins of Corn- 

 wall and Devonshire the work of the Druids, and used by them for 

 the purpose of lustration. Geologists however consider them as the 

 result of the action of eddies of waters in which pebbles are suspend- 

 ed ; in this latter view I cannot concur, because I have frequently 

 observed Rock basins in places over which no stream has ever pass- 

 ed, and within the last few days I have seen one of these excavations 

 on the surface of a rock, in a ravine far above the scope of the water 

 at its highest rise. 



The last relic of Druidism existing on the Neilgherries which I shall 

 have perhaps to describe, is a Tor near Bellike, called by the Natives 

 Pipacul or barrel-stone, from its resemblance. As usual they have 

 attached some wonderful story to this uncommon object, asserting it 

 marks the spot where a giant or Raksi buried his treasure. This 

 stone is about ten feet high and four feet in diameter at its thickest 

 part, from which it tapers barrel shape to its ends, which are planes. 

 It rests upon and projects over the point of another rock. A diver- 

 sity of opinion exists regarding the origin of Tors and Logan stones, 

 Geologists declaring they are due to the decomposition of the rock, 

 while antiquaries maintain they were wrought by the ancient Britons 

 for the uses of priestcraft. I think an opinion embracing portions of 

 both would be the just one, and I am disposed to consider the Lo- 

 gan stones in most instances the result of natural exfoliation in the 

 stones, and that the Druids — aware of the effects produced in the 

 minds of the vulgar by any natural phenomena or object of unusual 

 occurrence — rendered the Tors and Logan stones subservient to the 

 purposes of their superstition. 



Chapter 14th. 



Seeking for fresh evidence of a Buddhist or Jain people having for- 

 merly inhabited the Neilgherries I have collected the following. 



1. The Burghers relate a tradition to the following effect. Many 

 centuries ago a race of people called Mauryas flourished here who 

 were the creators of all animals ; and were subsequently destroyed by 

 a shower of fire and mud from heaven. The interpretation of the 

 tradition I make thus. Maurya was the family name of the celebrat- 



