DEVIPATAM 
349 
As we passed the fort, it had a handsome effect, from its lofty and 
massive walls, with the pagodas and palace rising above them, seen 
from a country that was perfectly flat. The road was very unplea- 
sant, being over rice fields that were preparing for their crops. 
Some people were employed in letting oflp the water from the 
tanks, where it had been kept above the level of the country ; others 
were ploughing with oxen, ancle deep in mud and water; others 
again were raising the mounds round the small divisions, by which 
to preserve a sufficient depth of water. Our boys had to wade 
through this, and to lift the palanquin over the mounds, which 
were occasionally very high. The Naig of the delogets was on 
horseback ; his man waded by my side. By eleven we reached a 
pagoda of the same form as the one at Ramiseram. The building 
at the entrance was handsome, and pyramidal. The first temple 
was built of large stones, and supported by pillars covered with 
carved deities ; it had a brazen pillar in it, which passed through 
the roof, and was surmounted by a peacock: before it was the 
Lingam of black stone. The second temple they would not permit 
me to enter; but by the dim light of the lamps, I could distin- 
guish that a chain of temples ran a great way backwards, gradually 
lowering and narrowing till they ended in a small temple with a 
cupola, under which was the deity. There were a few low steps 
to each division, but no communication with the open air. The 
priest made an offering of rice whilst I was there, bent down, and 
frequently rang a little bell. A lofty wall surrounded the whole, 
and a choultry was built opposite to it. By half after twelve I got 
to Devipatam, a straggling village nine miles from Ramnad. It was 
very hot, though there was a pleasant breeze from the sea, which 
we here reached again after having quitted it at Panban. I rested my 
