Journal of a residence in India / By Maria Graham. Illustrated by engravings.

  • Maria Graham
Date:
1812
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Journal of a residence in India / By Maria Graham. Illustrated by engravings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Touhi.] ed the hill by a very rude path, which leads to steps cut in the rock; and found not a few caves, as I expected, but a whole ci- ty excavated in the mountain, which is perfectly bare, but sur- rounded by woody hills. Some of the caves are small, and seem adapted for private dwellings ; to each of these there is a reservoir of excellent water; others are large, and I could imagine them the residence of priests or persons of distinction. One in particular has a long viranda in front; the chamber within is about forty feet square, its sides are covered with figures of Jine saints, four of which are standing, the others sitting in the posture of medi- tation, or reasoning, with the fore-finger of the right hand applied to the thumb of the left. Narrow door-ways in three sides of the cave lead to cells of ten feet by six, in each of which there is a raised seat; the fourth side has one door, and several windows looking into the viranda. The small caves are in a variety of shapes, and the pillars that support them are not less various; yet I think none of them are ugly, and many are very elegant, The large square cave is in a ravine, where there are shrubs and trees; over it the stones dug from other caves are piled, so as to support earth, where a few trees flourish, and render the spot cool- er than any other part of this subterraneous city ; for, excepting here, there is no vegetation but now and then an euphorbia, which seems to root in the stone itself. The top of the mountain commands a fine prospect over woods and mountains, and arms of the sea, to the continent of India on the one hand, and to the ocean on the other. Here are reservoirs of excellent water, and baths dug in the rock, the access to which, as well as the com- munication between the caves, is facilitated by flights of steps cut in the mountain. The caves of Canary, like that of Carli, contain inscriptions in an unknown character. At Ambola, a
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