THE SEVEN PAGODAS, 
31 
play between their legs. The natural ease of at- 
titude and vigour of action displayed in this interest- 
ing group are truly astonishing. They are done with 
a truth and spirit which give them that sort of sym- 
metrical analogy to the living animal which the an- 
tique statues bear to the human figure. In a word, 
they are masterpieces of their kind. Wherever sculp- 
tures of the sacred bull are found, they are almost 
invariably highly finished specimens of art ; indeed 
it is evident that the most eminent masters were 
always employed to form these senseless objects of 
Hindoo veneration. It is really amazing to what 
perfection some of the fine arts were brought in this 
remote country, in ages so long anterior to European 
civilization. 
Upon a line with the sculptured rock is a spacious 
excavation, with a long fa9ade of highly-ornamented 
columns. The interior is astonishingly rich in sculp- 
ture. There are several chambers of different sizes, 
all hewn out of the solid stone, which is a hard un- 
laminated granite. This magnificent work of human 
ingenuity and labour is upon the road towards Madras. 
About a mile south of the village is a cluster of five 
beautifully decorated temples, cut out of huge blocks 
of granite, which are truly marvellous specimens of 
taste and skill. They are of various dimensions and 
heights; the highest, which is by far the finest, as 
well as I could judge from a mere admeasurement 
by the eye, is about fifty feet from the base to 
the summit. This temple is excavated into stories, 
all exceedingly rich in sculptured decorations. In- 
deed the neighbourhood of Mahabalipuram abounds 
