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English officer at Butcher’s island; whither we repaired every 
evening, and returned on the following morning to revisit the Ele- 
phanta, as the nocturnal damps render it dangerous to sleep in 
the caverns, and the cottages of the natives cannot accommodate 
Europeans. 
I do not wish to insinuate from this gentleman’s surprize and 
delight in the caverns of the Elephanta, that he placed the Hindoo 
sculpture in competition with the Grecian temples and statues; 
it was the general effect which struck him. However these gigantic 
statues, and others of similar form, in the caves of Elora and 
Salsette, may astonish a common observer, the man of taste looks 
in vain for proportion of form and expression of countenance. 
The Elephanta caves especially cause admiration when we 
contemplate the immensity of the undertaking, the number of 
artificers employed, and the extraordinary genius of its first pro- 
jector, in a country until lately 7- accounted rude and barbarous, by the 
now-enlightened nations of Europe. It is a work which would be 
admired by the curious, had it been raised from a foundation, like 
other structures; but when we consider it is hewn inch by inch in 
the hard and solid rock, we cannot but be astonished at the 
conception and completion of the undertaking. In Egypt are 
many excavations similar to those in Hindostan, which, with great 
reason, are supposed to be derived from the same origin; nor is it 
extravagant to pronounce, with Maurice, that the caves of Ele- 
phanla bear a great resemblance to what was exhibited in vision 
to the prophet Ezekiel; when, looking in, he saw every form of 
creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the 
