1850.] Sircar of Pytun. 361 



lateral cells for the priesthood ; this is not the usual form of arrange- 

 ment, and I remember but one instance of it at Elloora ; at Ajun- 

 tah it does not once occur : cutting off the sanctum by a passage in 

 this manner, is however frequently adopted in the Jain and Brah- 

 minical caves, at the former place. Stucco paintings appear at one 

 time to have covered the walls, portions still may be seen adhering 

 in several places, but in too minute quantities, or so discolored by 

 smoke, as to prevent anything being distinctly made out. The or- 

 namental carving dispersed about the pillars, doorways, and lion 

 thrones, is the exact counterpart of that adopted at Elloora, and 

 Ajuntah. The principal idol is of gigantic proportions: seated on a 

 lion throne, with the feet resting on the lotus flower, and hands 

 placed in a position, denoting the act of holy contemplation. A re- 

 markable sameness j*uns through the forms of these figures ; judg- 

 ing by the universality of this representation, it would seem that 

 there existed some ideal resemblance which was rigidly conformed 

 to, as a rule of art, by the Sculptor ; what that particular physiog- 

 nomy is, would be best understood by transcribing Burkhardt's des- 

 cription of some of the tribes of Northern Africa, coming under the 

 generic name of Ethiopian. " Their features," he remarks, " are 

 not at all those of the Negro ; their face being more oval, the nose 

 often perfectly Grecian : the upper lip is however generally some- 

 what thicker than is considered beautiful amongst northern nations, 

 though it is far from the Negro's lip. Hair is naturally curly, but 

 not at all woolly. The attendants and praying figures associated 

 with the idol, frequently possess a physiognomy of a very low type, 

 betrayed by their projecting lips, broad high cheek bones, and flatten- 

 ed nostrils." These African resemblances have given rise frequently 

 to the notion, that India was indebted to Egypt for her cave temples ; 

 and the idea is plausible enough. Seeing that in both, a great affini- 

 ty exists as to their architectural combinations and massive sculpture ; 

 butupon closer examination, the resemblance is, as the Chevalier Rienze 

 observed to Bishop Heber, but slight and general ; the older migra- 

 tory movements from east to west, will reconcile much of what would 

 otherwise here appear inexplicable, for it is by no means improba- 

 ble that the Troglodytal habitations of the mountains of Central Asia, 

 have served as architypes, both for the cavern temples of Upper 

 Egypt and India, though it would appear that more foreign elements 

 have become mixed up with the former than the latter, a circumstance 



