106 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



the fifth or sixth century A.D., of the Pallava or E. Cera writing, 

 and rather older generally than that of Kamaraja's inscription 

 in No. 24. 



In design it is not unlike Nos. 2, 3 and 39, but is larger (9 

 yards square and 1 1 yards high) and more finished, and therefore 

 more important, and very interesting as the prototype of the 

 South Indian or Dravidian style of temple architecture. 



The double flight of steps on the first floor terrace for ascend- 

 ing to the second floor or upper terrace is worth noting. 



Having now examined the southernmost group of monoliths 

 (Nos. 36-43), the group of objects near the shore remains to be 

 visited (Nos. 6, 7 and 8). 



8. The Chetty's temple (ruined) is within three-quarters of a 

 mile to the north-east, whether one takes the shortest but tedious 

 way across the sand direct, or by going eastward nearly one- 

 third of a mile to the sea-side and then on the moistened sand 

 along the beach, or by going back (northward) along the path 

 to the south- south- east end of the rocks and then striking east- 

 ward for \ a mile across the sand to No. 8. 



9. As our camp was in the tope of trees 200 yards east of 

 No. 45 (a little south of No. 9, the fine masonry lined tank called 

 Pundarlka-pushkarini), the latter was preferred. 



8. The Chetty's Temple (ruined). — This was evidently a 

 small structural temple built of large stones, perhaps resembling 

 Nos. 34, 6 and 54. It lies from 350 to 400 yards eastward from 

 No. 9 the big masonry tank, on a slight mound two or three 

 score yards from the sea. It is a complete ruin, and the stones 

 were so weather-worn that, with no time to spare, little or nothing 

 could be made out of them. 



8J. The Lion Rocks on the sea-shore ; (much weather-worn). 

 —This group of sculptured rocks lies 60 or 70 yards south-south- 

 east of No. 8, and is interesting as resembling the similar sculp- 

 tured rocks at Saluvankuppam. They consist of a small lion 

 eouchant and two other rocks, one carved into griffins' heads 

 encircling a niche with many figures about it, and on the opposite 

 side a bare-backed horse, and an elephant's head bearing a little 



