THE ARABIAN RACE. 



267 



animals, in the course of his life; and that they destroy not only 

 cattle, but in some instances even men. He and his companion, were 

 Muslim and Mawotti, from the Northward; and one of them came 

 from Lucknow." 



On the 1st of January, 1845, 1 visited the Caves; which are situated 

 several miles from Purdapur, the nearest inhabited place. A stream 

 comes out of the mountain-slope through a deep glen, walled by cliffs 

 six or seven hundred feet in height; and half-way up, a horizontal 

 series of caves extends around a semicircular sweep. The river-bed 

 being dry at the time of my visit, afforded access to the secluded spot; 

 and the first care on arriving, was to discharge fire-arms, "to slart 

 the tigers." The only response, however, was an alarm among mul- 

 titudes of the domestic pigeon. Man had withdrawn for ages, but 

 his dwelling-place was not abandoned by his associate bird. I spent 

 several hours in examining the caves, and my guides being unwilling 

 to pass the night there, I left before dark ; and taking the direct route, 

 I reached Adjunta late in the evening. 



On the 2d, I commenced my return ; for the first few miles, in com- 

 pany with a Braminical wedding-procession; the antique pattern of the 

 cars, calling to mind the heroic ages. Through some mismanagement, 

 one of the cars was overturned, and several women and children were 

 severely bruised ; soon, however, one of the party came along bearing 

 a flagon, and poured oil upon the wounds. 



By an exception to the usual cloudless sky of half the year, the 

 heavens were obscured on the 3d and 4th ; and a corresponding 

 change took place in the otherwise constant direction of the wind. 

 But the general use of adobes or sun-dried brick, affords proof, that 

 the rains in the Dekkan are never very copious. 



In geological structure, the Dekkan to the limit of my excursion, 

 was found to be a trap-formation ; and in this respect, it corresponds 

 with the table-land of Oregon. I left the main road at Phoolmarry, 

 and on the evening of the 4th, I reached Ellora; where I spent the 

 following day, in examining the Caves. 



On the 6th, I proceeded through a Muslim village, noted for the 

 manufacture of paper. I next passed th(3 base of the artificially insu- 

 lated mountain of Dowlutabad ; a stupendous work of the ancient 

 Hindoos, requiring even at the present day the jealous care of go- 

 vernment. The vicinity of Ellora, appears also to have been the 

 principal seat of Muslim power ; and it abounds in Muslim temples, 

 which are now for the most part abandoned. In the evening, I re- 



