Indian Antiquities, 231 



pectedto make great progress in their journey; but owing to the 

 great distance to the supposed northern shores, it is probable 

 that it would take them the greatest part of next summer to 

 make any very extensive survey of the coast ; and that they would 

 have to retire to the southward during the ensuing winter; but 

 it was uncertain where they would take up their quarters, as they 

 could gain no intelligence of the country beyond the limits of the 

 fur traders. The officers of the Hudson's Bay and North-west 

 Companies had paid every attention to the party. 



INDIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



Extract of a Letter from an Officer who accompanied General Sir Charles 

 Colville in his tour and inspection of the Deckan, containing a description 

 of the memorable Hindu Caves at EUore, 1st Marcli 1820 : 



*' These caves are 18 miles from Arungabad, and consist of 

 more than 20 excavations in a rocky mountain, which forms a 

 semi-circle of about 2000 yards. The largest of the caves is 

 called Khylass, or Paradise. It is cut through the solid rock, 

 and no other material is used. The chisel seerns to have been 

 the only tool employed. A most beautiful stone temple is formed, 

 adorned, both inside and outside, with figures in basso relievo^ 

 and separate figures of the most exact symmetry, representing all 

 the Hindu gods, their conquest of Ceylon, &c. There is a space 

 between the scarped rock and temple with galleries, and a ve- 

 randa under the former, in which there are 50 gigantic figures, 

 with symbols of their history, &c., forming the whole Hindu 

 mythology. The dimensions of this cave are 240 feet in length, 

 140 in breadth, and the scarp J}0 feet in height. The temple 

 has a movable appearance, from elephants, tigers, &c. being cut 

 underneath the floor, which appear to support the whole building; 

 the heads and part of llieir bodies only being exposed on the out- 

 side. Many of the other caves are equally extraordinary. There 

 are flying figures, women, and all the fanciful tales of the Hindus, 

 admirably depicted in stone. There is a miser, about ten feet 

 in height, with his mother, wife and children clinging to his legs, 

 whilst a thief is taking off his treasure. It is a group that might 

 be placed near the Laocoon, and our sculptors might lake les- 

 sons by a visit to these wonderful caves. There are no natives 

 now in existence equal to any thing of the kind. Some thou- 

 sands umst have been employed ; their origin is involved in 

 obscurity. The general report is, that they were made about 

 1000 years ago, wiien the Boodh or the Brahmin religion was 

 in the greatest splendour, and that thev were used for schools, 

 religiouii rites, &;c., and the residence of their priests. There is 

 a profusion and mitmteness, elegance and lightness in the figures 



bevond 



