an island of Indostan, formed about six miles north-west of Trichinopoly by the river Cavery, which divides itself into two branches: that to the northward takes the name of Coleroon, but the southern branch preserves its old name the Cavery. Each of these rivers, after a course of about 90 miles, empty themselves into the sea; the Coleroon at Devi-cottah, and the Cavery near Tranquebar, at about 20 miles distance from one another. In this island, facing Trichinopoly, stood a famous pagoda surrounded by seven square walls of stone, 25 feet high and four feet thick. The space between the outward and second walls measured 310 feet, and so proportionably of the rest. Each inclosure had four large gates, with a high tower which were placed, one in the middle of each side of the inclosure, and opposite to the four cardinal points. The outward wall was about four miles in circumference, and its gateway to the south was ornamented with pillars, some of which were single stones 33 feet in length and five in diameter; while those that formed the roof were still larger; and in the innermost inclosure were the chapels.—About half a mile to the east was another large pagoda called Jumbikifina, which had but one inclosure.

The pagoda of Seringham was held in great veneration, from a belief that it contained the identical image of the god Wiftnou worshipped by Brama; and pilgrims came here from all parts of India with offerings of money to procure absolution. A large part of the revenue of the island was allotted for the maintenance of the Brahmins who inhabited the pagoda; and these, with their families, formerly amounted to no fewer than 40,000 persons, all maintained by the superstitious liberality of the adjacent country.