^00 
ELEPHANTA. 
noted by every traveller, is that of a female amazoii, which, from 
having four arms, most probably represents some super-human 
personage. Did the romance of the Amazons reach Greece from 
India, or were there ever such personages in the Eastern world are 
interesting questions, but at present incapable of solution. There is 
no appearance of any great violence having been used to injure 
the figures. Had cannon been employed by the Portuguese for that 
purpose, the marks of the balls would have been visible, and the 
destruction would have been among the figures. As it is, the pil- 
lars are more rapidly decaying than any other part. The water is 
permitted during the rains to lodge in the cave, and the stone, 
being a soft one, moulders perceptibly away in the vicinity of the 
open air. The scene, from the little level space in front, is extremely 
beautiful, and a cool breeze tempers the heat in the most sultry 
day of summer. The beauty of the place has however been con- 
siderably diminished by a wall, which has been erected across the 
front, to prevent cattle from getting in, and, as I hear, to prevent 
curious visitors also from treacherously carrying oflf the legs, headsj 
and arms of these helpless deities. 
