ELEPHANTA. 199 
into fields of rice, and plantations of sugar; even wood itself is only 
procured at a very high price, chiefly for want of arrangement. 
If no better use is to be made of the island, it might certainly sup- 
ply this article at half the price that is now paid for it. Dr. Scott 
has set a good example of enterprise, by establishing a very valu- 
able sugar plantation. On the ^5th we returned to Bombay in the 
Government boat. 
I was afterwards tempted by the verdant appearance of the Island 
of Elephanta, which rears its woody head nearly in the centre of 
the bay, as much as by the report of its celebrated cave, to pay it 
a visit. The accurate Niebuhr has given so good an account of it, 
that a description is unnecessary. I have only to observe, that I do 
not think either his drawing, or the etching in the Asiatic Re- 
searches, have given the character of the triune deity. Brahmah s 
countenance admirably expresses the undisturbed composure of 
the creator of the world ; Vishnou's, on the left, has every feature 
of benevolence, while the lotus which he holds in his hand seems 
to be expanding under the genial ray of his eye. Seva's, on the con- 
trary, has a ghastly and dire scowl, that well accords with the ob- 
jects that he holds before him, two of the most venemous of serpents, 
the covra copel. I was much surprised at the ingenuity of the con- 
ception, and the merit of the execution, of these figures. How su- 
perior must they have appeared when in a state of perfection ! 
It was pleasing to me to find, that the great cave of Elephanta, 
which opens to the north, and has a flat roof, had no inscription 
in the unknown character, nor any figure of Boodh. Of the nume- 
rous deities of the Hindoo mythology, many have been honoured 
with a place ; but the most curious figure, and which has been 
