OCT. — MAE.. 1859-60.] Scientific Intelligence. 



351 



trees and creepers upon the roof and between the joints of the 

 walls, but Pondicherry has done its share in the destruction of this 

 Pagoda, at what period it is not certain, but the report of Natives 

 would fix it to within a comparatively recent one. The plunderers dis- 

 mantled the roof, in places, for the sake of the handsomely carved pil- 

 lars, someof whichmaybe nowseen lying on the ground at Pondicher- 

 ry. There have been also miscellaneous plunderers from various 

 petty Pagodas, which have been restored or adorned at the expense 

 of the Ginji Pagoda. In the recent clearing of jungle, sanctioned 

 by the Chief Engineer to facilitate the approach to the buildings, 

 the cutting of some trees and roots only caused more stones to fall. 

 In some places the roots have become so interwoven with the ma- 

 sonry that it would be impossible to separate them, and the only 

 hope of saving these interesting ruins for a while is to leave them 

 alone, clearing only the bushes and trees which block up the ap- 

 proaches to them. 



5. Next is an old Mosque, insignificant in size, with the roof 

 supported on 25 small brick arches on octagonal pillars. The cen- 

 tre arches are cracked by the growth of banyan drops into the inte- 

 rior. In front of the building is a paved court, with a basin 9 yards 

 square in which a fountain formerly played. The walls are de- 

 faced with scribblings, and the building is used frequently for stor- 

 ing Indigo, and it often becomes the resort of cattle, especially dur- 

 ing showers of rain. The exterior is the soundest looking part of 

 the whole. 



6. The most curious structure is a rectangular building of six 

 stories, situated on one side of a square court which has a covered 

 verandah all round. The walls are cracked and the building much 

 disfigured. Being a singular looking edifice, a drawing of it has 

 beea prepared. 



7. Two ranges of buildings close to the last appear to be worthy 

 of attention, and probably to have been the lines for the troops. 

 A Plan and Section of these is also submitted. The whole of the 

 compartments are more or less in want of repair ; of some, the 

 roofs have fallen in ; in others, the pillars or walls have given way, 

 whilst others are sound. I valued the two ranges of buildings at 

 Rupees 2,200 and my Estimate for restoring them, amounts to Rs. 



