THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



195 



In plan it is 42 feet long 25 feet wide and 25 feet high 

 (Carr, p. 105). This is a most unusual form of temple and is 

 supposed to resemble a Buddhist hall. The waggon-roof with 

 its five horse-shoe dormers on each side, and its curvilinear gable- 

 ends, is finished or nearly so ; and so also for the most part are 

 the end fa$ades, especially that on the north end, the sides, 

 which contain five niches under the five dormers, and the conti- 

 nuous row of (imitation) monks' cells which line the outside of the 

 verandah roof, or cell-terrace, immediately over the verandah or 

 ground floor storey. But in parts, especially the lower part of 

 the south gable end facade, and on the east side, the work has 

 been left incomplete and only blocked out. 



The cornice overhanging the verandah is nearly completed all 

 round, but the ground floor is only begun. It was appa- 

 rently designed to have a verandah all round, except at the four 

 corners, perhaps divided into bays by free-standing polygonal 

 lion-based pillars between corresponding square pilasters (antce), 

 of the style so prevalent here (which may also be seen in the 

 neighbourhood at Manimangalam, 22 miles north-west, and at 

 Tellar, 44 miles to west-south-west., and doubtless elsewhere). 

 There are five bays or openings on the west and east sides, and 

 three bays at the north and south ends. A transverse vertical 

 crack from top to bottom has completely divided the work in 

 halves, which, with one or two other cracks, may well have 

 stopped the work. 



The northern gable end f acade is the most perfect. It consists 

 of a projecting cubical niche or shrine-recess in the centre, under 

 a prominent cornice of the usual shape with two small erect 

 horse-shoe facets, and surmounted by a high-domed dagola-om&- 

 ment, having a single horse-shoe, containing a human face on the 

 front base of its dome. The dome is bell-shaped, and is capped 

 by a kalaiam or pointed finial. 



The large central niche below the dagoba ornament and cornice 

 is vacant now, but from the cubical hole or image socket cut in 

 its floor, from the small channel for the escape of water or 

 any anointing liquid, and from the door post sockets with which 

 it is provided, it was evidently intended to contain an image or 



