OTHER ANTIQUITIES. 



157 



the image of a fish on some, and that of a tortoise on others, 

 have been discovered. The fish is found on some of the 

 Kurumba coins. During this journey I collected some small 

 copper coins, on the obverse of some of which are severally, a 

 peacock, horse, bull, Hanuman, antilope, and Krishna. 

 Coins occur I believe corresponding to each epoch of the 

 Vishnu Avatars. The Hindu Avatar coins possibly 

 suggested to the Mogul rulers of Delhi the idea of the zodia- 

 cal rupees so much prized by collectors. At Tirumanga- 

 lam is an old page da with many inscriptions on it which 

 might afford much information. 



Ta/par. — Some pagodas are met with. There is one near 

 Dimrakampatty, in front of which rises a pedestal supporting 

 a round stone with a flat surface impressed with two human 

 foot-marks reputed to have been left by Rama ; I am disposed 

 to connect this with what was related to me at Vumalur 

 respecting the route of Eama. The frequent occurrence of 

 small pagodas to Hanumanta, one of Kama's leaders, along this 

 road, confirms the tradition of the expedition. Several inter- 

 esting stone monuments of warriors stand near the pagoda. 



Aclamanhotta. — This place takes its name from a fort now 

 nearly level with the ground. Under a grove of high trees 

 half way between the bungalow and the village on the left of 

 the road, are four veraculls (monumental) stones in a line, 

 with sculptures on them. Beyond these on the same side of 

 the road is a ruined pagoda of an oblong form. The exterior 

 has a cornice following the shape of the building upon which 

 were figures similar in design to those I saw on the J ain 

 temple at Yizimangalam. On other parts of the edifice I 

 remarked single human figures seated cross-legged in niches. 

 In a field near this edifice is a very remarkable sculptured 

 upright stone, which was doubtless once the idol tenanting 

 the adytum of the ruined pagoda. To me it seems to be a 

 figure of Buddha or Jaina, and bears a striking resemblance 



