yond the elephants, are two obelisks, of a fquare form, handsomely graduated to the commencement of the capitals, which feem to have been crowned with ornaments, but they are not extant, though from the remains of the left-hand one, I judge them to have been a single lion on each. "To preferve fome order, and thereby render easier the defcription of this great and complex work, I fhall, after mentioning that on each fide of the gateway within there is an abundance of fculpture, all damaged by time, proceed to mention the parts of the centre ftructure; and then, returning to the right fide, enumerate its parts; when taking the left hand, I fhall terminate the whole in a defcription of the end of the area, oppofite to the gateway and behind the grand temple. Exemplifying the whole by references to the annexed plan. 66 ENTIRE BELOW. "Paffing through the gateway below, you enter the area, and proceeding under a fmall bridge, pafs a folid fquare mafs which fupports the bull Nundee ftationed above; the fides of this recefs are profufely fculptured with pillars and figures of various forms; having paffed it you come to the paffage under another fmall bridge, beneath which there is, on one fide, a gigantic fitting figure of Rajah Bhoj furrounded by a group of other figures. Oppofite to which is as gigantic a figure of Guttordhuj, with his ten hands. At the end of this fhort paffage commences the body of the grand temple, the excavation of which is in the upper ftory that is here afcended by flights of steps on each fide. 66 RIGHT AND LEFT HAND SIDES OF THE TEMPLE BELOW. "The right hand fide is adorned with a very full and complex fculpture of the battle of Ram and Rouon, in which Hunómaun makes a very confpicuous figure. Proceeding from this field of battle, the heads of elephants, lions, and fome imaginary animals, are projected as though fupporting the temple, till you come to a projection, in the fide of which, funk in the rock, is a large group of figures, but much mutilated. This projection was connected with the apartments on the right hand fide of the area by a bridge, which has given way, and the ruins of it now fill up the fides of the area. It is faid to be upwards of 100 years fince it fell. Paffing the projection of the main body of the temple, it leffens for a few paces, then again projects, and after a very small space on the line of the body of the temple, the length of this wonderful ftructure, if what is fabricated downwards out of a folid mass can be fo called, terminates in a fmaller degree of projection than the former. The whole length is fupported, in the manner above-mentioned, by figures of elephants, lions, &c. projecting from the bafe, to give, it fhould feem, the whole vaft mafs the appearance of moveability, by thofe mighty animals. The hindmoft, or eaftern extremity of the temple, is compofed of three diftinct temples elaborately adorned with fculpture, and fupported, like the fides, by elephants, &c. many of which are mutilated. The left-hand fide (1 mean from the entrance) differs fo little from the right, that it is unneceffary to be particular in mentioning known, figures are added or diminished at pleasure, as bet fuits the fraudful purposes of intereft, or of ambition. To obtain their true æra, we must patiently wait for the tranla tion of thofe infcriptions that probably contain it, as well as the meaning of their myfterious hieroglyphics. The obscu rity of the character in which they are compofed is a confi. derable argument in favour of their high antiquity, and the aftonishing number and magnitude of the excavations feems to prove them to have been the work of a powerful fovereign, reigning in peace over an obedient and fuperftitious people, whofe patient labour for a series of years could alone have fabricated fuch amazing works. Any defcription of thefe rock-excavations, without the accompanying plates, by which they are illuftrated, must be neceffarily very inadequate to imprefs the reader with a juft conception of their magnitude, and the various imagery with which the walls are decorated. The most wonderful feems to be that called " Keylas, or Paradife"; of a part of which (for the whole is far too long for infertion) the following extract is a description: "This wonderful place is approached more handfomely than any of the foregoing; and exhibits a very fine front, in an area cut through the rock. On the right hand fide of the entrance is a cistern of very fine water. On each fide of the gateway, there is a projection, reaching to the first story, with much fculpture and handsome battlements, which, however, have fuffered much from the corroding hand of time. The gateway is very fpacious and fine, furnished with apartments on each fide that are now ufually added to the Dewries of the eastern palaces. Over the gate, is a balcony, which seems intended for the Nebut Khannch. On the outfide of the upper ftory of the gateway are pillars, that have much the appearance of a Grecian order. The paffage through the gateway below is richly adorned with fculpture, in which appear Bonannee Ufhtbooza on the right, and Gunnes on the left. From the gateway you enter a vaft area cut down through the folid rock of the mountain to make room for an immenfe temple, of the complex pyramidal form, whofe wonderful ftructure, variety, profufion, and minutenefs of ornament, beggar all defcription. This temple, which is excavated from the upper region of the rock, and appears like a grand building, is connected with the gateway by a bridge left out of the rock, as the mafs of the mountain was excavated. Beneath this bridge, at the end oppofite the entrance, there is a figure of Bouannee fitting on a lotus, with two elephants with their trunks joined, as though fighting, over her head. On each fide of the paffage under the bridge is an elephant, one of which has lost its head, the other its trunk, and both are much fhortened of their height by earth. There are likewife ranges of apartments on each fide behind the elephants, of which thofe on the left are much the finest, being handfomely decorated with figures. Advanced in the area, be yond yond the elephants, are two obelisks, of a square form, handfomely graduated to the commencement of the capitals, which feem to have been crowned with ornaments, but they are not extant, though from the remains of the left hand one, I judge them to have been a single lion on each. "To preferve fome order, and thereby render eafier the defcription of this great and complex work, I fhall, after mentioning that on each fide of the gateway within there is an abundance of feulpture, all damaged by time, proceed to mention the parts of the centre ftructure; and then, returning to the right fide, enumerate its parts; when taking the left hand, I fhall terminate the whole in a defcription of the end of the area, oppofite to the gateway and behind the grand temple. Exemplifying the whole by references to the annexed plan. 66 66 ENTIRE BELOW. Paffing through the gateway below, you enter the area, and proceeding under a fmall bridge, pafs a folid fquare mafs which fupports the bull Nundee ftationed above; the fides of this recefs are profufely fculptured with pillars and figures of various forms; having paffed it you come to the paffage under another fmall bridge, beneath which there is, on one fide, a gigantic fitting figure of Rajah Bhoj furrounded by a group of other figures. Oppofite to which is as gigantic a figure of Guttordhuj, with his ten hands. At the end of this fhort paffage commences the body of the grand temple, the excavation of which is in the upper story that is here afcended by flights of steps on each fide. 66 RIGHT AND LEFT HAND SIDES OF THE TEMPLE BELOW. "The right hand fide is adorned with a very full and complex fculpture of the battle of Ram and Rouon, in which Hunomaun makes a very confpicuous figure. Proceeding from this field of battle, the heads of elephants, lions, and fome imaginary animals, are projected as though fupporting the temple, till you come to a projection, in the fide of which, funk in the rock, is a large group of figures, but much mutilated. This projection was connected with the apartments on the right hand fide of the area by a bridge, which has given way, and the ruins of it now fill up the fides of the area. It is faid to be upwards of 100 years fince it fell. Paffing the projection of the main body of the temple, it leffens for a few paces, then again projects, and after a very small space on the line of the body of the temple, the length of this wonderful ftructure, if what is fabricated downwards out of a solid mafs can be fo called, terminates in a fmaller degree of projection than the former. The whole length is fupported, in the manner above-mentioned, by figures of elephants, lions, &c. projecting from the bafe, to give, it fhould feem, the whole vaft mafs the appearance of moveability, by thofe mighty animals. The hindmoft, or eastern extremity of the temple, is compofed of three distinct temples elaborately adorned with fculpture, and fupported, like the fides, by elephants, &c. many of which are mutilated. The left-hand fide (I mean from the entrance) differs fo little from the right, that it is unneceffary to be particular in mentioning mentioning any thing, except that oppofite the defcription of the battle of Ram and Renon, is that of Keyfo Pando, in which the warriors confift of footmen, and others mounted on elephants, and can drawn by horfes, though I obferved none mounted on horfes. The principal weapon feems the bow, though maces and straight fwords are difcoverable. "CENTRE ABOVE. "The gateway confifts of three centre rooms, and one on each fide. From the centre rooms, croffing the bridge, you afcend by feven steps into a fquare room, in which is the bull Nundee. This room has two doors and two windows. Oppofite the windows are the obelifks before-mentioned. "From the ftation of Nundee, you crofs over the fecond bridge, and afcend by three fteps into a handfome open portico, fupported by two pillars (above each of which, on the outfide, is the figure of a lion, that though mutilated, has the remains of great beauty, and on the infide, two figures refembling fphynxes) towards the bridge, and two pilallers that join it to the body of the temple, the grand apartment of which you enter from the portico by four handíome fteps and a door way, on each fide of which are gigantic figures. Advancing a few paces into the temple, which is fupported by two rows of pillars, befide the walls that are decorated with pilafters, there is an intermiffion of one pillar on each fide, leading to the right and left, to an open portico, projecting from the body of the temple, from the right hand one of which, the bridge already mentioned as broken, connected the main temple with the fide apartments, to which there is now no vifible accefs, but by putting a ladder for the purpose, though I was told there is a hole in the mountain above that leads into it, which I had not time nor ftrength to explore. The accefs to the oppofite is by ftairs from below. The recefs of the Ling of Mahdew to which there is an afcent of five fteps, forms the termination of this fine faloon, on each fide of the door of which is a profufion of fculpture. The whole of the ceiling has been chunamed and painted, great part of which is in good prefervation. "A door on each fide of this recefs of the Ling of Mahdew leads to an open platform, having on each side of the grand centre pyramid, that is raifed over the recefs of the Ling, two other receffes, one on each fide, formed alfo pyramidically, but containing no image. Three other pyramidical recefles, without images within them, terminate the platform, all of them elaborately ornamented with numerous figures of the Hindu mythology. Many of the outer as well as the inner parts of this grand temple are chunamed and painted. The people here attribute the fmoky blacknefs of the painting within, to Aurangzebe, having caufed the different apartments to be filled with ftraw and fet on fire; which I can reconcile on no other ground, than to efface any (if any there were) obfcenities, as there are many in the fculpture. Upon the whole, this temple, of which I was too much indifpofed to give even the inadequate account that I might, if in perfect health, has the appearance of a magnificent fabric, the pyramidal parts of which feem to me to be exactly in the fame ityle as that of the modern Hindu temples." P. 404. We We are loft in aftonifhment as we proceed in the inveftigation of thofe immenfe fabrications by the laborious industry of pious Hindoos; and when, in addition to thefe, we turn our eyes to thofe of Canara, of Elephanta, and Salfette, our wonder is increafed in a tenfold degree, and the pyramids of Egypt are leffened in our eftimation. The dimenfions of this rock-temple are given in a table that forms an Appendix to the above account; but as it is very minute, and extends through feveral pages, we are compelled to omit it. We fhall just mention, that the breadth of the outer area of the excavation, as there delineated, is 138 feet, and 88 feet deep; the inner area is 247 feet long, and 150 in breadth; while the height of the folid rock, out of which the court is excavated, is 100 feet. P. 411. 11. Remarks on fome Antiquities on the Weft and South Coafts of Ceylon, written in the Year 1796. By Capt. Colin Mackenzie. The writer of this article juftly remarks, that Ceylon, fince its reduction under the British dominion, having become of confiderable importance in the fcale of Afiatic politics, every investigation into its natural and civil hiftory, and antiquities, &c. must be particularly gratifying. Similar ftrata of calcareous rocks, marine productions, and fhells alfo perfectly fimilar, fhow this ifland to have been once attached to the continent. The Sanfcrit dialect is the bafis of the languages of Ceylon, and continues unadulterated in the names of ancient and celebrated cities, and places of worship. The manners and customs of the Ceylonefe are not more diftin&t from those of Hindoftan than may reafonably be fuppofed, during the long lapfe of years that have revolved fince it was fubject to the Hindoo government, and from the ceafelefs influx of foreigners. The principal feature in the Cingalefe religion is their reverence of Buddha, to which fect of Hindoos they are proved to belong, by the maffy fymbols of ftone erected to his honour over the whole island. Knox had observed this above a century ago; for, fpeaking of their ruinated temples and images, that correct traveller obferves, " they spared not for pains and labour, to build temples and high monuments to the honour of this god (Buddha) as if they had been born to hew rocks and great ftones, and pile them up in heaps *." Captain M'Kenzie confirms this account of the prevailing Knox's Account of Ceylon, p. 186. fyftem |