learned the story of their iniquity from no less a person than Siva himself.
Illavan met him with the customary offer of hospitality, which was accepted. While the traveller rested the savoury curry was prepared in the kitchen. The pundit partook of it heartily, for he was hungry. Immediately afterwards he began his religious exercises, repeating prayer after prayer, muntrum after muntrum. He put on his sandals and set out on his southward journey. Still the muntrums fell from his lips. Illavan called to his brother again and again, but Vatapi was powerless under the strength of the holy man's prayers. In due course the Raksha was dissolved. Then the pundit turned upon Illavan and cursed him, so that he too died. The bones of the two brothers petrified, and were scattered abroad at the foot of the hills where they had lived, and may be seen to this day. Agastyan reach Courtallum, where he still lives on the top of an inaccessible peak, rapt in religious contemplation.
On the Nilgiri hills the demons are said by the natives to be giants of white complexion. Since the arrival of the English the demons have retired to clefts and caverns, where none can find them, and they never show themselves, as they are afraid the white people should lay a spell upon them.
The Golden Rock at Trichinopoly is a solitary hill that has figured in the history of our struggle with the French for the mastery in south India. It is so called from its golden colour at sunset. It is a mass of iron-stone, which draws to itself the lightning of the storms that sweep over the plain. It is believed that untold wealth is hidden in its clefts, but the treasure is guarded by the most venomous snakes. When a rich man dies and his wealth is not inherited by others, it is said that he is turned into a snake and guards his property in that form.
An attempt has been made more than once to find the
