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to doubt their having owed their existence to religious zeal, the most powerful and most universal agitator of the human mind.

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The ancient Brahmins avoided the contamination of cities, and affected the purity and simplicity of rural retirement; when far removed from observation, the imagination of their disciples probably enhanced the merits of their sanctity. To alleviate austerities, and to gratify the devout propensities of these holy men, naturally became objects of pious emulation. Under this influence, the munificence of princes may have been engaged to provide them retreats; which, sanctified by the symbols of their adoration, were at once suited, in simplicity and seclusion, to those for whom they were intended, and in grandeur to the magnificence of their founders."

The article on Ellora, in the fifth volume of the Asiatic Researches, contains a fac-simile of ancient inscriptions, taken by Mr. Wales, an able and ingenious artist, who went thither for the purpose of making drawings of the excavations, and of the country

contiguous to them.* The inscriptions are translated by Capt. Francis Wilford, who says:-"I despaired at first of being able to decypher them; however, after many fruitless attempts, we were so fortunate as to find at last an ancient sage, who gave us the key, and produced a book in Sanscrit, containing a great many ancient alphabets formerly in use in different parts of India. This was really a fortunate discovery, which hereafter may be of great service

to us.

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There is an apparent stamp of antiquity upon these excavations, superior to those of Elephanta, Mavalipooram, &c. for there are fewer figures distorted with a multiplicity of arms and heads; there is a grace almost Grecian in several of the deities; and throughout, much less of grotesque barbarism and obscenity than is found in the more recent structures of their superstition. The wealth, the

power, and

* Views from the drawings of Mr. Wales have been published by Mr. Daniel.

the labour, requisite to form these excavations, equal, if not surpass, all that must have been employed in the edifices of Egypt."*

A description of the excavations on the island of Elephanta, is to be found in the Asiatic Researches.+ This modern name of the island, is supposed to have been given by the Portugueze, from the statue of an Elephant as large as life, in black marble, which is near the usual landing place on the island.

Those on the island of Salsette are described by Anquetil du Perron.‡

We shall be more particular in regard to Malvalipuram, having ourselves resided some years in that part of India. This place is on the sea-coast, about thirty-eight miles south from Madras. The first written account given of it, that we have seen, is one by Mr. Chambers,§ and another by

* Vincent, vol. ii. p. 413.-See also Thevenot.

+ Vol. iv. p. 407.

Vol. i. p. 385, et seq.

Asiatic Researches, vol. i. p. 145.

Mr. Goldingham.* Mr. Chambers observes, that the name as here pronounced, Mavalipuram, is Tamulic, or in the language vulgarly called Malabar; but that the proper name in Hindū and Sanscrit is, Maha-Balipur, or the city of the Great Bali. Besides the places formed by excavations in the rocks, the remains of numerous buildings are to be traced on the surface of the hill, as well as on the plain below it. After passing several objects of inferior note, the first that attracts attention in mounting the hill, is a small Hindu temple, covered with sculpture, and hewn out of a single detached mass of granite, about twenty-six feet in height, nearly the same in length, and about fourteen in breadth. Within it, is a Lingam, and an inscription on the walls, in a character now unknown to the Hindūs. Mr. Chambers remarks, that it neither resembles the Devanagari, nor any of the characters connected with or derived from it. Contiguous to this, the

* Asiatic Researches, vol. v. p. 69.

surface of the rock, for about ninety feet in extent, is covered with sculptures, the most conspicuous of which is a gigantic figure of Krishna; near him are, his favorite Arjoun, in the attitude of prayer, and a venerable figure, said to be the father of Arjoun. Among the figures of several animals, there is one, which the Brahmins name Singam, or lion, but which is not an exact resemblance of that animal; nor is this surprising, as the lion is not an inhabitant of this part of Asia; but in the same group the elephant, monkey, and other figures, are executed with spirit and fidelity. At a small distance are the ruins of some temples built of brick surrounded by a wall of stone, and an excavation in the rock, fronting the east, the massive roof of which is supported by rows of columns, but now so much corroded by the air of the sea, as to render it impossible to form a just idea of their original shape. A little farther on is a more spacious excavation, now used as a Choultry, or place of accommodation for travellers. Figures, sculptured

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