EAMEAN CAVES AND IDOLS. 



401 



From the head of two of the ravines by which considerable torrents 

 flow into Bamean river, beautiful views are obtained of the Kohi- 

 Baba, whose peaks according to native authority, stretch sixty miles 

 to the westward of Bamean, without much diminution in height. The 

 scenery, however, is less beautiful after emerging into the widened 

 part of the valley, where the hills are less varied both in form and 

 tints, than they are in lower parts : fine views however of Kohi-Baba 

 are occasionally had. 



Salsolse are the prevailing plants of the rocky sides of the valley, 

 Clematis erecta common, here and there a small Statice. 



Caves occur throughout the wide portion of the valley, but chiefly 

 on the northern side ; they also extend a little way into the narrow 

 portion, where they seem to be excavated into clayey-looking, red, 

 earthy limestone, or more commonly conglomerate, of coarse grey, or 

 reddish colour. 



The caves are most common in two cliffs composed of conglomerate 

 mixed with transverse strata of the same rock, 3,400 feet high, pre- 

 senting a rugged outline ; and between the two, which are 800 yards 

 apart, large idols are carved. These cliff's in some places have suf- 

 fered little from the action of the elements, as testified by the perfect 

 nature of the opening of the caves, and the corners, &c. of the niches 

 enclosing idols ; in others they are furrowed by the action of water ; 

 in others again slips have taken place to such extent in some, as to 

 cause the fall of all their caves, or of their greater portion, thus 

 exposing the galleries, etc. 



The base of the cliffs is irregular, formed of the same conglomerate 

 and clay, but covered more or less by boulders, evidently brought 

 down by the river ; by these marfjr caves are choked up, so that origi- 

 nally the cliff" might have been perpendicular to the edge of the base, 

 and if so, the caves in the cliffs, and the idols, are of later date than 

 those of the rugged base. But more probably the cliffs, and the 

 caves, are much as they were originally, the boulders having been a 

 subsequent deposit. 



The western corner of the cliff beyond the large idol, is much des- 

 troyed ; on this, the force of the current would have acted : a break- 

 water occurring along the returning face. 



The caves are very numerous, but are confined chiefly towards the 

 base of the cliff's, not scattered over them as I believe Burnes repre- 

 sents. These are of no size, finish, or elegance, and it is only their 

 number, and the extreme obscurity of their history, that makes them 



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