CHAPTER XII.

THE SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLES.

Colombo to Tuticorin--The plains of the Carnatic--Thirty great Dravidian temples--The temple at Tanjore--Colossal monolithic bull--The pagoda, a fine piece of work-- “It casts no shadow”--Subsidiary temples and frescoed arcades--A regiment of _lingams_--The Tanjore palace-- The temple at Mádura--The _Choultrie_, the Eastern gate, and the Hall of a thousand Columns--Crowds in the temple precincts, gloom and stillness of the interior--Juggernath cars in the streets--The Temple of Chidámbaram, a goal of pilgrimage and a den of Brahmans--The weird hall of a thousand columns, haunted by bats--A cranky Brahman-- Goldsmiths at work for the Temple--A truculent pilgrim 209–226