364 Lieul. Alexander's VisH to the Cavern Temples ofAdjunta, 



perty, was disabled by a cut from a sabre. Our fire-arms prevented their 

 attacking us ; and we were allowed to proceed unmolested. 



The glen, up which our road lay, almost to its termination, where the 

 caves are situated, was remarkable for its picturesque beauty. It continued 

 winding amongst the hills, which rose from the banks of the stream with a 

 considerable acclivity, and having their sides clothed with scattered jungle. 

 Amongst the trees I observed the melia azadirachta (neem), the robinia mitts, 

 miviosa Arahica (babool), hassia lal'ifoUa (mowah), from which a spirit is 

 distilled, Jicus religiosa (peepul), &c. The hills, whose height was from 

 four to five hundred feet, now began to close in their wild and romantic 

 features upon us ; and though I cannot pretend to rival the author of " The 

 Wonders of Ellora"in enthusiasm, yet it was with no common interest, 

 and with my expectation intensely excited, that I viewed the " low browed" 

 entrance to the first cave, which is not attained till a mile of the glen has 

 been traversed. 



Although the beauty of the surrounding scenery infinitely surpassed that 

 at Ellora, yet I cannot say, like the author above quoted, " that my feel- 

 ings were interested to a high degree of awe, wonder, and delight, at first so 

 painful, that it was a long time before they became sufficiently sobered and 

 calmed to contemplate, with any attention, the surrounding wonders ■," nei- 

 ther can I assert " that Bruce's emotions were not more vivid or tumultuous 

 when first beholding the springs of the Nile, than mine were on first reach- 

 ing the caves ;" yet this I will say, that the retired and umbrageous situa- 

 tion of the Adjunta caves, completely secluded from the busy haunts of 

 men, and enclosed with overhanging hills and woods, with a clear stream 

 rushing past them over its rocky bed, evinced a far better and purer taste in 

 those by whom they were excavated, than can be conceded to those who 

 constructed the caverned temples of Ellora, in the face of a low and barren 

 ridge. 



The caves of which I am now treating are excavated in horizontal strata 

 of grey wacke, with imbedded portions of quartz approaching chalcedony. 

 Blood-stones, in which the portions of jasper are larger than usual, may be 

 picked up in a water-worn state, in the bed of the stream. Indurated felspar 

 is also in abundance. 



The first cave is about forty or fifty feet above the stream, and faces the 

 south. The whole series of caves has the same aspect, but gradually 

 ascends higher up the ridge ; the central ones being about a hundred and 



