672 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



Mahal at Agra were at one time greatly disfigured by the combs of this 

 insect. 



The following interesting note by Major T. R. A. G. Montgomery 

 on the nuisance and damage committed by this bee at the Ajanta Caves 

 appeared in the Pioneer'* some time ago : — 



The Collector of Khandeish has written to warn visitors to Ajanta 

 of the danger caused by bees. These industrious and vindictive insects 

 appear to be as dangerous now as they were in 1877, when Mr. Burgess, 

 the Archaeologist, " was dreadfully stung and had to remain in the 

 river for hours up to his chin in water." So important was the matter 

 formerly considered that in the 1879 edition of Murray s Handbook, 

 travellers to India are recommended to supply themselves, as part ot 

 their outfit, with "a pair of stout leather gauntlets coming up above 

 the wrist half-way to the elbow, and a light wire-mask with a back- 

 piece to protect the back of the head and neck," for use when visiting 

 the caves of Ellora and Ajanta as a protection against the bees, " many 

 persons having been so badly stung that in some cases death has 

 ensued." In the same guide-book we read as follows : — " Having 

 located himself, the traveller will do well to send for Imam, the great 

 beehunter of Ajanta, and inquire in what state the bees are. If likely 

 to be troublesome, Imam will arrange for their destruction before the 

 caves are visited." Apart, however, from the danger to those visiting 

 what Murray describes as " the most extraordinary sight that India has 

 to show," there is another fact I would like to bring forward, namely, 

 that the bees are one of the chief causes of damage to the famous wall 

 paintings in the caves. In Messrs. Ferguson and Burgess's book on the 

 Cave Temples of India it is stated that " forty years ago {i.e., about 1839) 

 the paintings at Ajanta were very tolerably complete and their colours 

 exhibited a freshness which was wonderful, considering their exposure to 

 the vicissitudes of an Indian climate for from 15 to 18 centuries. Since 

 that time, however, bees, bats and barbarians have done a great deal to 

 obliterate what was then so nearly perfect." As the State protection of 

 the remains of ancient India is now about to pass into law, might I sug- 

 gest to the authorities that a small portion of the money that will soon 

 be annually allotted for the purposes of preservation be devoted to the 

 eviction of the bees of Ajanta caves ? This would simply mean a trifling 

 amount spent in wages to Imam, the bee- hunter, if he is still alive and 



* Allahabad, Pioneer, January 19th, 1903. 



