1S47.] Dwellings, from Verbal Accotinis, ^c. 85 



stones. They constructed these stone caves under ground, for their 

 own residence ; and., after living in them for a length of time, were 

 destroyed in the deluge, at the close of the Yu^a. In consequence 

 of which these came to be called Vdli-cudi and Curungu-harat 

 monkey dwellings. 



7. Some say to the following purport. — In early times Rdcshasas 

 dwelt in these lands. They had a deceptive form (capable of various 

 appearances — Protean) : they dwelt in the forests, like wild beasts. 

 In order to preserve their wives and children, they constructed these 

 kinds of stone houses, underground ; and as they resided in them, 

 these acquired the name of houses of Rdcshasas. 



8. In former times the son of Mricanda-rishi was Marcandeya- 

 rishi; in the time of both of whom, mankind lived 900 years, 1000 

 years, 1900 years, and did not die, even until the time of the flood ; 

 and were healthy. During many years they were strong and stout; 

 afterwards feeble through age, like ripe fruit; and being unable to 

 rise up, they remained stretched on their mats. Their body was 

 like the ripe pumpkin-fruit: the eye only remained uninjured, and 

 eight clear. It was very difficult for them to eat, and the like. 

 Besides they always remained as if like corpses in a lying posture. 

 They had great numbers of grandchildren ; and there were many 

 wives of their grandchildren. Such kind of ripe-fruit-like persons, 

 remained a long time lying in their houses. At last, at the time 

 prefixed (astrologically) for their death, the younger persons did not 

 like that these ripe-fruit-like men should die in the houses, and 

 constructed, for each one, a stone sepulchre under ground, in which 

 they put him, together with the wealth which he had acquired, with 

 pans, pots, fire-wood, and all other similar kind of provisions daily. 

 As long as he lived his relatives went and watched at the door of 

 that sepulchre ; at length when the end was come, and he had ob- 

 tained beatification, the most aged among his relatives came, and 

 having made the lamentations closed up that door with earth, and by 

 an addition of other earth they made it thoroughly secure. The 

 cause was this — if he died within the house, the house would be de- 

 filed — his personal utensils were defiled — and if his property were 

 inherited, it would not only bring pollution, but would be a sin, and 

 would tend to the destruction of the family : according to the tradi- 

 tions which they followed. That this is certain a great many per- 

 sons aver for true. Thus the places of sepulture constructed by the 

 Panta-varcal (or ancients) in early times are called stone-sepulchres, 



