380 
MAH ABALIPU R AM 
river Pinear, now but twenty feet wide and two deep, though the 
bed of it was at least half a mile broad. The mountains were a 
very fiae object on the left. We got down to the sea-shore about 
a mile from Sadras, and at a quarter past six reached Mrs. Isaac's 
inn. at that place. She is a very civil and respectable old Dutch 
woman. A most excellent dinner was prepared, and she joined 
me afterwards in a bottle of her own Madeira, and of my claret. 
She spoke English, and was a very pleasant companion. 
The town is now in decay : there was formerly a small fort, sur- 
rounded by a brick wall, about fifteen feet high, on one side close 
to the sea. This was seized by Lally at the siege of Madras, in 
violation of the Dutch neutrality, and formed into a depot of 
stores. It is now in ruins. A range of houses faced the three 
land sides of the fort at a small distance. They are rapidly 
decaying, and the inhabitants are retiring to more flourishing 
stations. 
February 8.— I left Sadras at six, and soon quitted the direct 
road to visit the celebrated ruins at Mahabalipuram, which are 
generally called the Seven Pagodas, but for what reason it would 
be difficult to say, as no such number exists there. The excavations 
and carvings are well worthy the attention of travellers, but they 
have been so accurately described in the first and fifth volumes of 
the Asiatic Researches, that it is unnecessary for me to say any 
thing about them.* After indulging myself for three hours in 
examining them, I departed. Twenty-eight miles from Madras I 
was met by fresh boys sent on by Mr. Petrie. The whole day 
^ * I found at Madras that Mr. Salt had taken several views of them; I have given 
an engraving from one of them. 
