1844.J 



Account of Mamallaipur. 



13 



On the western face of the northern termination of the hill, 

 not far south of the pagoda just described, may be found, af- 

 ter a little search, a circular cistern cut out of a solid stone. 

 It is 8 feet 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet deep, but cracked. 



* Near this cistern the face of the rock is carved and orna- 

 mented to the extent of 28 feet in length by 14 feet in height. 

 There are 3 large excavated niches (No. 4) with a flight of 4 

 steps leading into each. Figures are sculptured on each side 

 the entrances. The centre or principal niche contains a figure 

 of Mahadeva and four other figures cut on the back wall. 

 The other two niches contain a figure of Vishnu and four 

 others. This rock faces the north-west, and to the right, or 

 south, of it, is an imperfect representation of Dilrga, eight- 

 handed, and trampling under foot the head of Mahishasura, 

 whose story will be told presently. On the eastern' face of 

 this rock are carvings of a well proportioned elephant 5 feet « 

 high, and the heads o5 three smaller elephants ?»with those of 

 a monkey and of a peacock. The communication between 

 the eastern and western faces of this rock is through a cleft 

 at the north end of it. 



0 



At a short distance in a south-westerly direction from this 

 place is an excavation in the solid rock (No. 5) measuring %2 

 feet long, 9 feet 6 inches deep and 8 feet high. The top is 

 supported by two plain, strong, square pillars. It contains a 

 square niche, on each side of which is a figure, probably that 

 of Parvati, a goddess who will be introduced to the reader 

 presently. This excavation is on the western face of the hill, 

 which is a continuous range of granite masses. 



Still keeping on the same side, at 100 or 150 yards south- 

 ward from the last excavation we come to another (No. 6) con- 

 taining five niches, with steps leading into three of them ; and 

 two rows of pillars, four in each. This excavation is 36 feet 

 long, 16 feet deep, and nearly 10 feet high. The niches con- 



