NASSUK. 
145 
sides by bold precipitous rocks, to be entered only by 
one pass, and that so narrow and intricate, as to be 
quite impracticable to all, except those who, by long 
practice, had become thoroughly acquainted with its 
labyrinthine circuities. A dense forest, rendered impe- 
netrable by thorny underwood, covered the face of this 
valley on all sides, except upon a spot in the centre, 
where was a high conical hill, — excavated by the 
Budhists in former ages — the upper part whereof had 
been hewn into an immense temple, and the base into 
numerous caverns for the abodes of the priests. So 
vast were the proportions of the temple, that it was 
esteemed capable of containing five hundred mounted 
troopers. It had two small arched entrances, one 
towards the east and the other towards the west, 
protected by huge massive doors of wrought iron; 
the approach to which was by two circular roads, in 
the nature of military ramps, which wound round 
from the base of the hill and rendered the ascent easy 
for cavalry. The height of this extraordinary cham- 
ber was about fifty feet to the centre of the vault. 
The rocky walls were all around hewn into bassi- 
rilievi of gigantic figures, representing the wonderful 
characters of the Budhistical pantheon, and a mul - 
titude of incomprehensible monsters, whose hideous 
aspects and antic attitudes greatly enhanced the wild 
and mystic effect of the place. The natural fortifi- 
cation of this position was so perfect, that Yakoob 
Lais had little to do in preparing it for the accom- 
o 
