170 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



tions of the outlines can be traced by the remains of the original 

 smoothly dressed back ground. About the part of the rock 

 which formed the top or roof and back of the central cell the 

 remains of modern-shaped masons' wedge-holes for splitting 

 away the rock can be seen, and from what remains of the plinth 

 moulding below, and of the projecting cornice above the cells, 

 their position and style can be made out. 



The two dcarapcil or sculptured warders that occupied the 

 panels or niches, one on each side of the excavation, have been 

 carefully destroyed in a similar way. The south dvarapal seems 

 to have had one or two Nag a snakes about him. At each end of 

 the mandapa fagade, but within the colonnaded enclosure, the 

 face of the rock has been cut into a dome-covered niche, resem- 

 bling a small shrine. These have been neatly finished and 

 probably belonged to the original design. They are now (1880) 

 vacant, but in 1803 contained " figures " (Kav. Lakshmayya, 

 see Carr, p. 207). 



The dvarapals of Dharmaraja's Mandapa No. 44 near this 

 have been dished as here, the lihgam socket is vacant and its 

 three cells empty and Koneri S. Cave No. 52 has suffered simi- 

 larly. 



The outer cornice is a prominent feature, of plain convex 

 curvature overhanging and projecting beyond the face of the cave 

 (2' 4") two feet four inches, and is complete throughout the length 

 of the front. It is as if supported by curved wooden-pattern 

 brackets or struts, and is accompanied by a frieze or string- 

 course of dwarfs, bearing the roll ornament which hangs in 

 festoons between them. The outer face is adorned with erect 

 horse-shoe facets as usual. The fagade above the cornice is cut to 

 represent a row of five of the usual oblong waggon-roofed cells 

 joined by a corridor or covered passage, with windows (or door- 

 ways) closed with screens of fret-work, the stone being perfo- 

 rated or cut deeply in various patterns : one such window-screen 

 for each cell, and two for each intermediate passage. On 

 examining this cell-terrace closely the remains of some coloured 

 plaster was found still adhering to the sculptured rock, the 

 prevailing colour noticed being a dark red ochre, or a reddish 



