422 DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVES, &C. ON THE 



Above the gate-way (H), which is richly fculptured on 

 the out fide, is a balcony, which feems well fuited, if 

 not intended, for a mufick gallery, to the interior tem- 

 ple (I), which has the appearance of an elegant chapel, 

 Avith an arched roof, and is exaBly in the llyle of a 

 liniilar excavation at Kenara on the illand o\ Salfettc^ 

 and another at Ekvera^ near tlie top of Bhore Ghauty lirft 

 explored by Mr. Wales, the painter. At the upper 

 end is the figure (i) above mentioned. From the ceil- 

 ino are projected (lone ribs, following the curvature of 

 the arch to the capitals of the pillars on each fide 

 throuf;h the whole length of the excavation. Befide 

 the <rrand aifle, or body, of the excavation, there is a 

 fmall paffagc formed by the row of pillars on each fide 

 round the altar, but it is dark and narrow. Thisfingu- 

 lar form of cave, wherever J Rave met with it, has con- 

 veyed the fame imjneirion ofits being a pUce of con- 

 gregation and adoration, rather than of refidence or 

 habitation, and has given rife to an idea in my mind, 

 from the orbicular ceiling, and the name and attitude 

 of its inhabitant, that it may be meant to reprefent the 

 Almighty, meditating the creation of the world; tinder 

 the arch or canopy of unlimited fpace. It isneccfiary 

 however, to accompany this idea, with an acknowledge- _ 

 ment, that the fimilar caves o^ Ekvera and Kenara, arQ_, 

 not inhabited by Biskukma. They having only a veryc 

 high aitar, the top of which is circular, and lituated as^ 

 reprefented in the annexed drawing at the back ofz' 



BiSKURMA. 



Dimenfions. 



Area, fquare, . - _ , _ 



Veranda below, in front, and each fide 



having twelve pillars and two pilaf- 



ters, broad, - _ _ 



Ditto roof, high, - _ _ 



Door- way, four feet broad by eight feet 



four inches high, gallery above the 



door, fquare, - - -140 



Length 



