PENKONDA. 
3 
of this volume. It is said to have been built more 
than a thousand years since, but the Hindoos affirm 
that Krishna, having taken it into especial favour, 
has preserved it throughout from the depredations of 
time, no less than the attacks of the Moliummedans. 
It must formerly have stood without the fortifica- 
tions, and was probably used as a monastery, being 
laid out in a series of small cells, most miserably 
dark and dreary, fit only for the habitation of 
ascetics, or reptiles, and bhoots * 
The gateway shown in the drawing, near the 
salient angle of the lower rampart, is also of Hindoo 
origin ; though here, too, the officious handiwork of 
the Moslems is conspicuous, the venerable pile being 
overlaid with a complication of Saracenic decora- 
tions, in lamentable discordance with the solemn 
style of its architecture. Having been once a grand 
impressive structure, it now presents a ludicrous 
laughing-crying effect, not at all unlikely to impose 
a fit of hysterics upon any lady beholder of common 
susceptibility. It is unquestionably more ancient 
than the surrounding ramparts ; although, it is 
impossible to assign an exact date to any building 
in Penkonda, owing to the deficiency of antiquarian 
statistical lore among the inhabitants, who acknow- 
ledge a decided preference for the mystic vagaries of 
* A family of the spirits of darkness, delighting in pesti- 
lential vaults, damp-stained, and honey-combed by the tooth of 
time. 
