DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0128
100 EASTERN CAVES.
most of his collections of a similar nature, they are incomplete and
without any descriptive text, so as to be nearly useless for scientific
purposes. These earlier accounts were, however, to a great extent
superseded by " A Guide to the Sculptures, Excavations, &c. at
Mamallaipur, by Lieut. J. Braddock," which appeared in the Madras
Journal of Literature and Science in 1844 * (vol. xiii). As this was
based on personal knowledge, and he was assisted in the task by
such experts as the Reverend G. W. Mahon, the Reverend "W".
Taylor, and Sir Walter Elliot, it contained, as might be expected,
all that was then known on the subject. Unfortunately, however, it
was not accompanied by maps or plans, nor, in fact, with any illus-
tration, so that, except to those visiting the spot, it is of compara-
tively little use.2
All these—except the Mackenzie MS.—which may be considered
the scientific illustrations of the subject, were collected by a Captain
Carr, under the auspices and at the expense of the Madras Govern-
ment. These were published in 1869 in a separate volume, with
several additional tracts, and with reproductions of such illustrations
as were then available, and a map of the locality reduced from the
Revenue Survey, which is the best by far that has yet been pub-
lished. As a manual for reference this work is certainly convenient,
but as its editor had no real knowledge of the subject, and no special
qualification for the task, it adds little, if anything, to what was
previously known regarding the place; while by rejecting Lieutenant
Braddock's numbers, and adopting new ones of his own, scattered
broadcast over his map, without any system, he has added consi-
derably to the confusion previously existing in the classification of
the various objects enumerated.
In addition to these more scientific attempts at description, the
place has been visited by numerous tourists, who have recorded their
1 I visited the spot in 1841, and my account of the antiquities was first published m
the eighth volume of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1843, and afterwards
republished with a folio volume of illustrations in 1845.—J. F.
2 The plans and sections used to illustrate this chapter are taken from a very com-
plete set of illustrations of these Raths made for me, at his own expense, by Mr. 1*.
Chisholm, Superintendent of the Government School of Art at Madras. They are
all to a large scale—2 feet to 1 inch—and are not only correct but full of detail beau-
tifully drawn. They are in fact a great deal more than can be utilised in a work h e
this, but I hope may some day form the foundation of a monograph of these roos
interesting monuments.
most of his collections of a similar nature, they are incomplete and
without any descriptive text, so as to be nearly useless for scientific
purposes. These earlier accounts were, however, to a great extent
superseded by " A Guide to the Sculptures, Excavations, &c. at
Mamallaipur, by Lieut. J. Braddock," which appeared in the Madras
Journal of Literature and Science in 1844 * (vol. xiii). As this was
based on personal knowledge, and he was assisted in the task by
such experts as the Reverend G. W. Mahon, the Reverend "W".
Taylor, and Sir Walter Elliot, it contained, as might be expected,
all that was then known on the subject. Unfortunately, however, it
was not accompanied by maps or plans, nor, in fact, with any illus-
tration, so that, except to those visiting the spot, it is of compara-
tively little use.2
All these—except the Mackenzie MS.—which may be considered
the scientific illustrations of the subject, were collected by a Captain
Carr, under the auspices and at the expense of the Madras Govern-
ment. These were published in 1869 in a separate volume, with
several additional tracts, and with reproductions of such illustrations
as were then available, and a map of the locality reduced from the
Revenue Survey, which is the best by far that has yet been pub-
lished. As a manual for reference this work is certainly convenient,
but as its editor had no real knowledge of the subject, and no special
qualification for the task, it adds little, if anything, to what was
previously known regarding the place; while by rejecting Lieutenant
Braddock's numbers, and adopting new ones of his own, scattered
broadcast over his map, without any system, he has added consi-
derably to the confusion previously existing in the classification of
the various objects enumerated.
In addition to these more scientific attempts at description, the
place has been visited by numerous tourists, who have recorded their
1 I visited the spot in 1841, and my account of the antiquities was first published m
the eighth volume of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1843, and afterwards
republished with a folio volume of illustrations in 1845.—J. F.
2 The plans and sections used to illustrate this chapter are taken from a very com-
plete set of illustrations of these Raths made for me, at his own expense, by Mr. 1*.
Chisholm, Superintendent of the Government School of Art at Madras. They are
all to a large scale—2 feet to 1 inch—and are not only correct but full of detail beau-
tifully drawn. They are in fact a great deal more than can be utilised in a work h e
this, but I hope may some day form the foundation of a monograph of these roos
interesting monuments.