BY DR. BERNCASTLE. 189 



continually running along the walls, producing a very lively 

 effect. This place being excavated out of the solid rock, from 

 which also are formed the pillars, sculptures, and dagoba, the 

 whole temple may be considered as one single solid structure, 

 with the exception of the teak umbrella. 



. A few yards to the left of the portico are some wells of 

 clear water, one of which runs under a subterraneous passage, and 

 near them are large square excavations like rooms, one above the 

 other, an old ladder being the only means of ascending to the 

 upper one. In each of these are about twenty little dark rooms 

 placed all around, each having a stone seat. These appear to 

 have been the separate chambers of the priests belonging to the 

 temple. Here everything is plain, without sculpture or inscrip- 

 tion. This is the Yihara, or monastery caves that appear to be 

 attached as at Kanari to the cathedral-like excavation of Buddha 

 worship. 



Passing through Karli, on my return from Poona I paid a 

 second visit to the caves to take a few sketches, and was not a 

 little astonished to find them filled with swarms of people, large 

 families being encamped in every corner, and outside all around, 

 where stalls for the sale of fruit and sweetmeats were erected, 

 giving the spot the appearance of a great fair. I found on en- 

 quiry that all this concourse of people was assembled to celebrate 

 the Hindoo fetes of Jattera, which last a fortnight from the 6th 

 of April, full moon, and that they were principally of the Coolie 

 tribe who came there on an annual pilgrimage from all parts of 

 the Concan, Canari, and the Malabar coast, Upwards of 1500 

 sheep had been killed in the caves the day before, as a sacrifice 

 to the gods, which accounted for the number of fresh raw sheep- 

 skins I saw drying on the rocks and surrounding trees in all 

 directions. On hearing this I congratulated myself on being able 

 to obtain a meal of fresh mutton at the bungalow, but was 

 informed by the Portuguese butler that not for any consideration 

 could a slice be had from the natives, this being a religious cere- 

 mony that entitled none but themselves to partake of the sacri- 

 ficial viands. 



A sirdar of the Rajah of Sattara having favoured me with the 

 loan of an elephant, I rode out on it to the cave temple of Bam- 



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