Storia do Mogor 277.3

277.3

At a distance of twenty leagues inland from Madras is a village called Canchy (Kanchi), which is as if you said 'Full of Treasures.' In old days this village was a great city, whence the Hindus to this day hold it in great veneration, owing to the existence of large and lofty temples. Each one of these would make an excellent fortress; and inside of them are many buildings [444] with figures of idols and gilded paintings of the lives and infamies of their false gods. In the midst is a large tank, the four sides built of large stones. Behind one of the temples I have seen a square pond without water; it is four cubits in depth, and twenty-four palms across. This pond was once full of coin, but a Brahman, offended by the other Brahmans and unable to avenge himself otherwise, discovered the secret to the general Allis Mardacan ('Ali Mardan Khan), who happened to be passing through. This coin served him once as ransom money, when he had been captured by Shiva Ji.