352 



Scientific Intelligence. 



[No. 10, NEW SERIES. 



5,500, but they might be rendered waterproof and useful, if no re- 

 gard is paid to uniformity of repairs, for a great deal less. 



8. There are a variety of other small buildings and curious 

 pieces of sculpture (and what is remarkable, free from any thing 

 obscene) interesting to the visitor but not requiring separate men- 

 tion. The two tanks shown in the Plan are said to be of some 

 fabulous depth. Foundations of houses are to be met with in dif- 

 ferent directions, and there is abundant evidence of the search for 

 hidden treasure within every building. The village of Ginji, at 

 present very small and about three-quarters of a mile from the 

 Fort, was formerly an important village, situated close under the 

 eastern wall without the Pondicherry gate. I have never been able 

 to discover traces of a christian burial ground, though the French 

 buried so many Europeans at Ginji, and I have only found one 

 small Powder Magazine. Judging from the hollow sound at places, 

 there must be a number of subterraneous passages and buildings. 

 I have lately found what I consider must be the entrance to one of 

 these passages leading apparently to the old village outside and 

 commencing under a modern ruined building of two stories, conti- 

 guous with the Pondicherry inner gate. This building was proba- 

 bly the French Commandant's quarters. 



9. At the foot of the hills, without the Fort, are numerous old 

 Mandapams, square tanks and pillars, but the only work worthy of 

 notice, and that is equal to any thing to be seen at Ginji, is a struc- 

 ture comprising twelve lofty and elegant columns, each a single 

 piece of granite. A drawing of these pillars was forwarded by me 

 to the Collector nearly two years ago, when suggesting their trans- 

 fer to Madras for the Neill Testimonial. 



10. The neighbourhood of Ginji until the last few years was 

 considered deadly feverish, a shelter for thieves, and a den for wild 

 beasts, but the commencement, five years ago, of a new road from 

 Tindivanam to Trinamallie via Ginji passing through the Fort and 

 the thickest part of the jungle, and now forming one of the main 

 roads of the District has made such a wonderful opening and change 

 in this part of the country, that the place is no longer feverish. 

 Whilst more recently the admirable system of Police Tannahs and 

 patrols, introduced by Mr. Taylor and actively carried out by Mr. 



