1847.] 



Neilgherry Hillsj 8fc. 



139 



Bellike. Although possessing none of the features of interest belong- 

 ing to the cave temples in the West of India, they are nevertheless 

 worthy of observation. Formed by rocks projecting from the moun-^ 

 tain side, the two caves are the work of nature, though the hand of 

 man has increased their dimensions. The first is known as the cave of 

 Mahmurpullum or the "mango tree," deriving this name from a 

 grove of large wild mango trees adjoining. It is about 30 paces 

 broad, 12 deep and 20 feet high at the entrance, the roof sloping 

 downwards inside until it joins the floor. Several smaller caverns 

 branch from the outer cave, most of which are now filled up by loose 

 stones and trunks of trees, the performance, I conjecture, of the Co- 

 rumbas who occasionally use this as a place of sacrifice and poojah. 

 In a recess I observed the lair of a bear, whom as I approached the 

 cave I disturbed while feeding a few yards from it. On other 

 thoughts intent I was not prepared to send him to sleep with his 

 forefathers, though I have no doubt this intimation will commit his 

 existence to the tender mercies of some Neilgherry hunter ; indeed 

 my rifle supplied me with so many bear skins in Goomsoor that my 

 predilection for this kind of sport has considerably abated. The roof 

 and facade of the 'cave present the remains of old paintings of armed 

 men, men on horseback, animals and demons, so rudely executed as 

 to render it as likely they are the work of the Corumbas as of a more 

 accomplished people. Some suppose this and the other cave presently 

 to be described to have been the hiding places of a Polygar chief of 

 the Fort of Adi-Raer Cottay when pursued by some of Hyder Al- 

 ly's troops. This same chief is erroneously thought by them to 

 have been the Adi-Raer who founded the Fort. The Monegar 

 and other inhabitants of Conagherry assured me, Adi-Raer the 

 founder of the Fort lived many generations ago, they could not 

 say exactly how many, but knew it was upwards of fifteen ; moreover 

 the early Burghers and Lingayets came to these hills at the invitation 

 of a chief occupying the Fort 300 years ago. All the natives in the 

 neighbourhood declare their conviction that Adi-Raer was a great 

 Rajah and not a Polygar chieftain. I think it probable the caves 

 may have been used as cave temples by the early Buddhist or Jain 

 inhabitants of the hills. 



To reach the second cave it is necessary to proceed in the first 

 instance to Arrawaddy two miles below Conagherry, and procure the 

 services of Corumba guides, the route being so intricate and embar- 



