110 Some Account of the Caves near Bang, 



white coarse-grained, and so soft as to be rubbed to pieces be- 

 tween the fingers, and containing many organic impressions. 

 Different shades of the red sandstone occupy tlie i;pper or per- 

 pendicular part of the hill, with thin layers of the claystone in- 

 terposed. A broad stratum, however, of the clavstone runs 

 about six feet above the top of the caves; and it may here be 

 observed, that it is solely from this stratum that the rock has 

 given way beneath, causing the destruction of those caves here- 

 after mentioned. 



The caves occupy the centre of the hill, commencing at its 

 perpendicular part. It is through the lower half of the caves, 

 for about six feet from their floor, that the stratum of white 

 sandstone runs; this however reposes on the old red sandstone. 

 The upper part of the caves is mostly formed of the light red 

 sandstone. 



The caves are four in number ; one only of which, the most 

 northern one, can however be said to be in a state of preserva- 

 tion. 



Immediately after crossing the river you ascend up the sloping 

 part of the hill, to the first or most northern cave, by a flight of 

 seventy rudelv formed stone steps, and arrive at a small landing- 

 place for the most part overhung by the hill. This bears the 

 marks of having once been formed into a regular viranda, sup- 

 ported bv columns, the roof plastered and ornamented, as shown 

 by its fallen fragments. The front of the cave still retains this 

 plaster. At each end of this viranda is a small room containing 

 small ill-covered figures, evidently of modern workmanship, that 

 on the left being a female one much mutilated, that on the right 

 a bad representation of Ganesa. 



You enter this cave at the centre, by an unornamented rectan- 

 gular doorwav five feet and a half wide. There is also a si- 

 milar one to the right, but much choked with the fallen frag- 

 ments of the roof. The cave derives its sole light from those 

 two entrances ; consequently, to examine its remoter parts, the 

 aid of torches is necessary ; and as tigers, which abound in this 

 country, have i)ecn found in tlie interior of the caves, this pre- 

 caution becomes the more requisite. 



On entering the cave you are impressed with its gloomy gran- 

 deur : it is not, however, till yon have been a \e.w seconds in it 

 that you ])erceive its great extent. The open area of this cave 

 is a regular square, measuring eighty-four feet each side. Its 

 height is fourteen feet and a half. The roof is supported by 

 four ranges of massy columns ; the two centre ones being round ; 

 those on the right and left square at the base, but at the heights 

 of five and eight feet formed into hexagons and dodecagons. 

 The roof, but no other part of this cave, bears the marks of 



having 



