Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 307

OCTOBER, 1873.]
NILGIRI REMAINS.
275
ON SOME FORMERLY EXISTING ANTIQUITIES ON THE NILGIRIS.
BY M. J. WALHOUSE, late M.C.S. ALTHOUGH the antiquities of the Nilgiri the platform stood a cromlech of very large
Hills were thoroughly investigated by the size, or rather a row of connected cromlechs, late Commissioner of the Nilgiris, Mr. J. Breeks, forming five partitions, three large ones of equal under the direction and with the aid of the Ma- height in the centre, and a smaller and lower dras Government, and although it is understood one at each end. They stood in a line, the three his account of them was completed before his la- central compartments being covered with three mented and antimely death, and will be published, huge capstones, the edge of one overlapping the it will not, I hope, be regarded as superfluous edge of the next; the supporting stones, four in to record the original features of some of the number, being great slabs, set up end-wise, with antiquities which have long ago been destroyed, slabs enclosing the back or north side-the front and are not mentioned in Colonel Congreve's or south side of all was open; the smaller strucaccount.
ture at each end was formed in like manner.
Unfortunately I omitted to take the exact diIn April 1849, when at Kunur (Coonoor) mensions, but a man could sit easily in any of the and inquiring amongst the natives about the an- three central cells; within them lay the skeleton cient remains, I was told by a Toda that there of a fawn, and part of an elephant's tooth much were some to be seen beyond the Nidi Månd. hacked with a knife. The supporting slabs wero So, starting early one morning, and crossing the sculptured all over on their sides within with figreat ravine which lies between Kun ûr and gures in the Hindu style, processional or warlike, the Halikal ridge, then clothed with deep magni- but there were none on the under-sides of the ficent forest, where now the eye meets nothing capstones. The figures were evidently ancient, save productive—but, alas! ugly-coffee-clear- as, though covered from the weather, their outings, I wound upwards through the picturesque lines were much worn. Whether these sculptures foldings of the hills to the Nidi Mănd, where my were coæval with the stones and wrought by informant met me. All Toda månds, i, e. vil the men who first placed them, or whether they lages, are beautifully placed, and this (whether were subsequent additions, is a controversy still still existing or improved into a coffee-garden, sub judice. They have been found on cromlechs I cannot say) was nestled in a oleft between and kistvaens in other parts of the hills, and two peaks, at the edge of a thick grove, the if regarded as contemporary with the stones trees of which stretched their great moss-hung would at once mark the age of these structures, arms over the wild-looking primitive huts, by as emblems, such as the Basava bull, of known which stood the tall men wrapt classic-wise in date, oocur amongst them. They appear always their cloths, whilst the handsome black-ringleted to have struck observers as later additions cut women sat chattering in a row, and the boys upon the previously existing cromlechs; such their thick shocks of hair cut quaintly thatch- was my impression and also that of Col. Confashion across their foreheads-came running greve, and others, but the point is by no means over the close fresh green-sward which lies be- settled yet. I may observe that a man sitting fore every Mănd.
inside the cells could easily have cut the sculpPassing through the high secluded cleft, tures in the cromlech now described by me. round the base of one of the sheltering peaks, I .On visiting the spot again in 1856 this curious decended for fully 1000 feet on the other side monument had been entirely destroyed, every of the ridge, by an excessively steep and difficult stone overthrown and lying scattered around; track, to a hollow, where on three sides the the work evidently of some barbarians -not, I slopes ren very precipitously down, enclosing at fear, dark-skinned. Though hitherto calling it the bottom a small platform, open on the fourth cromlech,' I hardly know how to class it. It or south side, whence the mountain-side fell was indeed rather a succession of open-sided consteeply down to the Bhavani valley at the neoted kistvaens. Single dolmens or kist vaens, foot of the range. On a knoll in the middle of consisting of upright side and back slabs sup,
See Madras Journal of literature and Science, vol. XIV. page 120, Old Series, and vol. IV. page 119, New Series,