South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c15.s1.3

c15.s1.3

Beneath this mountain is the great bay containing precious stones. Its waters are extremely blue. From here we marched for two days as far as the large town of Dinewar, near the sea, inhabited by merchants. Dinewar (Dinēśvara) contains, a large temple, with an idol that bears the name of the town. In this temple there are about 1,000 Brahmans and Yogees, and about 500 women, born of idolatrous fathers, who sing and dance the whole night before the god. The town and its revenues are the particular property of the idol; and those who live in the temple and those who visit it, are fed on that money. The idol is made of gold, the size of a man. It has two large rubies in place of eyes, which, I am told, shine like lanterns during the night.