ELLOEA. 73 



considered by the natives as perfectly impregnable, and no 

 doubt was so, according to their mode of warfare. Our 

 system of military tactics and operations, however, soon 

 reduced these hill forts, and put the natives very much out 

 of conceit with them. 



Quitting Dowlatabad, we passed a ghaut or mountain, 

 the ascent to which was entirely paved by Aurunzebe, and 

 at a short distance farther encamped beneath the walled 

 town of Roza. 



This place is celebrated as being the burying-place of 

 the Emperor Aurunzebe, whose tomb is a very shabby memo- 

 rial of his greatness. It stands on a level terrace of great 

 height, and commands a beautiful and varied prospect, 

 Aurungabad being seen in the distance. A mile and a 

 half from hence the traveller arrives at the head of the long 

 range of granite rocks, in which are excavated the wonderful 

 caves and temples of Ellora, and commands the most en- 

 chanting view of the country beneath. Forests and groves 

 of magnificent trees, white temples and pagodas peeping 

 from amongst them, and handsomely constructed tanks, all 

 formed a charming coup d'oeil. A precipitous and winding 

 path, excavated in the mountain itself, led us to the village 

 of Ellora, which is beautifully situated below, embosomed 

 in a grove of trees, and inhabited entirely by Brahmins 

 of the highest caste. 



We encamped not far from the most magnificent tank I 

 had yet seen in India. The retirement of the place, and the 

 beauty of the country, added much to the effect. Brahmins 

 and Brahminees were bathing in its waters almost in a state 

 of nature ; gorgeous peacocks were strutting with expanded 

 tails about the walls and terraces, and great black monkeys 

 were contemplating the scene in calm security. Apropos 

 of the sacred nature of these birds and beasts in Hindoo 

 mythology, a curious passage occurs in the First Book of 



