_Gòvalam_, the circuit of the cow; at present a town: the _Colis_ or _Colias_ of the antients, lying not far from _Tovala_. It is a strong fortress belonging to the king of _Travancor_, and guards the passage from the kingdom of _Madura_ to Cape _Comari_. On the maps it is called _Covalan_. NAMES OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE KINGDOM OF MAISSUR. _Maissùr_; from _Maï_, colour; and _Ur_, a land; _Maissùr_, the land of colour. It is not improbable that it obtained this name either from the reddish earth found there in abundance, or the dye plants it produces, and with which the cotton cloth is dyed. This kingdom lies between _Carnada_, _Madura_, and the coast of Malabar. _Bengalùr_, the white land, the white earth. This name is given to the capital where the nabob Hayder Aly Khan formerly resided. It is a considerable city, strongly fortified. _Ciringapatnam_, the capital and fortress where the nabob _Tippoo Sultan Bahader_ resides. It lies at the distance of twenty leagues from _Bengalur_, towards the west. On the maps it is called _Chiringapatnam_. _Dhermapuri_, the city of good works, or the city of virtue; from _Dherma_, virtue; and _Puri_, a city. On the maps it is called _Darmapuri_. _Dharàburam_, or _Dharàpuram_, the city where the rain water runs off; for it lies at the bottom of that ridge of mountains called the _Gauts_, from which the water pours down in torrents. On the maps it is called _Daraburu_. _Budhapadi_, the town of _Budha_, an Indian idol. On the maps, _Budapari_. _Gòculatùr_: from _Go_, a cow; _Cula_, a herd; and _Ur_, the land or town; consequently the land of the herds of cows. On the map, _Guclaturu_. _Cinnabellapuram_, the small city of strength. On the maps called _Sinnaba’lambaram_. _Ciandrapati_, or _Tschandrapadi_, the spot in the moon. On the maps _Sandarupati_. * * * * * Of such changed and corrupted names a great many more might be produced, but most of them so mutilated, that their real meaning can no longer be guessed, and people would only lose themselves in uncertain conjectures if they endeavoured to discover their etymological origin. It, however, appears by those above mentioned, that some of the Indian cities and towns received their names from Indian deities, others from local circumstances or the nature of their situation; and that such appellations cannot have originated from the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, or Romans. In the eastern part of India no traces of Sesostris or the Greeks are to be found, as some learned men in Europe have erroneously asserted. That India was already civilised in the time of Sesostris, shall be proved hereafter. In regard to the Grecian language and mythology, these were not known in India before the invasion of Alexander the Great, and even then only in some of the maritime cities of the northern part of the country[25]. * * * * *