202

[JULY, 1873.

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

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deceased.

In the case of a man killed by a tiger the tiger is always carved above his vic. tim. These monuments are very common, but generally of old date. I never saw a new one. They are sometimes erected on the spot of the death, but more often in the village group. In one case certain Bhills petitioned me in respect of a Mhowa tree, which they said their ances tors had planted “where one of our people was slain by a tiger.” There was no stone or other

rude. The boldest attempt at sculpture that I have seen was that of Büla Pátil in his cart; and in that case the artist was so sore put to it for perspective that he cut one bullock walk ing on his yokefellow's back, and one wheel before the other. The open hand is the emblem of a sati, but is very rare. Women's memorial stones are seldom seen together with those of the men, but cluster apart round some pipal

monument besides the Mhowa tree, which was

tree or the like.

In some cases one stone com

Other common ornaments are the pea

memorates several persons; e. g. at the village of Dongrälä I asked a Bhill the meaning of a large and very old-looking stone with five curious figures on it, about which I rather expected a good story. “Oh ſ” quoth he, “those are my brothers. That's Vithyá, and that's

fowl, antelope, the sun in the moon's arms

Khandyā, &c., and I gave a man a rupee a

(almost universal), and fighting men; all very

head to carve them.”

about 50 years old. The snake is used both as an ornament and to indicate death by snake bite; the latter is rare, and in such cases the snake is shown uncoiled, and under the man's

foot.

ARCHAEOLOGY IN NORTH TINNEVELLI.

Eotract from a letter from the Rev. J. F. Kearns to the Collector of Tinnerelli. (Proceedings of Madras Government, 18th November 1872.) urns in cromlechs, notably in Kourtalam, but I to some portions of Mr. Boswell's letter. (See have not discovered stone implements in any. There were many iron implements and exquisite Indian Antiquary, vol. I. page 372.) With reference to “inscriptions,” I quite agree pottery in them. The neighbourhood of the with him that no time should be lost in obtaining Jaina image at Nagalapuram abounds with these lurns. correct copies of all that exist, for it is only too true that time is fast effacing some very valuable Mr. Boswell remarks, “I have seen many ones.* In this zilla (Tinnevelli) there is a rock Buddhist temples converted into temples of temple, Kalugumalei, covered with Jaina figures Vishnu; but I do not know of any re-dedicated to and inscriptions; some of the latter I had copied Śiva.” The old Jaina temple, already alluded to, many years ago and presented them to the Madras at Kalugu malei is dedicated to the god Subra manya, Siva's youngest son. Perhaps there is more Literary Society. These inscriptions have been, contained in this fact than is apparent. According by competent scholars, pronounced the oldest to the oldest legends, Subramanya is the god of specimens of the Tamil language hitherto dis covered. The Tamil character of the inscription war, and that the Jainas in the south were cruelly is as different as possible from the Tamil character exterminated by the Saivites is a matter of his. of to-day, but the germ of the present character tory. In the re-dedication of a Jaina temple to is contained in it. I think that all the inscriptions Subramanya, Siva's youngest son, are we to on this temple should be carefully copied. infer that the measures were taken to extirpate Jainism P In a field close to Nagalapuram, in Ottapedaram Mr. Boswell refers to what are called “Kolle taluqa, there is a colossal Jaina image such as Mr. Boswell describest in his letter. This figure ought Kallu,” and he states on Mr. Walhouse's authority I have a few observations to offer with reference

to be preserved in some Museum. There is a small Jaina image in the village of Kolatur, and

it is worshipped by the natives, who apparently do not know what it is.

There is

another in

the ancient village of Kolkhei, near to Sawyer puram.

I have opened and examined many cinerary

• Wide ante, p. 185.

that there is one “within a mile of Mangalor.”

The descriptions which Mr. Walhouse gives of the figures on the stone closely resemble those which in this zilla are found in places where Sati had been performed, and further information re

specting them seems desirable. By whom were those stones called Kolle Kallu ? By immigrants

t Ind. Ant, vol. I. p. 374b.

† Ind. Ant. vol. I. p. 372a.