The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.72

v2.c17.72

In the centre of the tank there is a large island, protected by a stone revetment. (See plates XXVIII and XXXV). This is a feature common to almost all the larger tanks in Orissa, and adds greatly to the beauty of these artificial lakes. The Vindu Sāgara island measures 110 x 100, and has a small temple on the north-east corner of it. Before the temple there is a terrace with an artificial fountain in the centre. On the south-east corner, opposite to the terrace, there is a small pavilion supporting the reservoir of the fountain. Counterparts of this pavilion, but of dissimilar make, occur at the south-west and the north-west corners. On the occasion of the Bathing festival an image of Viṣṇu is brought to the temple, and, by holding the thumb against the jet of the fountain, the water is directed towards the image, and a shower-bath is effected to the wonder of the faithful, who look upon the feat as a miracle. There is no stop-cock attached to the pipe of the fountain anywhere, and a bit of rag is used to plug in the jet when the fountain is not required to be in play. On other than festive occasions, none visits the island, except crocodiles of which there are several in the tank, and which resort to it when disposed to bask in the sun, or to improve the flavour of their piscine food by leaving it there to rot. When I came to it, it was covered with jungle, and contained large accumulations of scales, bones and other remains of fish. It appeared from some remains I noticed, that, though bones are thoroughly digested by crocodiles, scales, in a great measure, resist the solvent powers of the gastric juice of those animals. The people in the neighbourhood told me that the reptiles never attack any human being, and men, women and children bathe in the tank at all hours of the day without any risk. I saw many little boys swimming lustily at a great distance from the banks, which are crowded by women who come, morning and evening, for their supply of drinking water.