Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/350

 336 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1758.

out vifitlng the wonders of this ca- vern ; of which too the fight ap- peared to me to exceed all the dc- fcriptions 1 had heard of them. About two-thirds of the way up this temple on each fide, and front- ing each other, are two doors or outlets, into fmaller grots or exca- vations, and freely open to the air. Near, and about the door-way, on the right hand, are alfo feveral mu- tilated image5,fingle and in groupes. In one of the laft, I remarked a kind of refemblance to the (lory of Solomon dividing the child, there Handing a figure with a drawn fword, holding in one hand an in- fant with the head downwards, which it appears in a6l to cleave through the middle. The outlet of the other on the left hand, is into an area of about zo feet in length, and 12 in breadth, at the upper end of which, as .you turn to the right, prefents itfelf a co- lonnade covered at top, of 10 or 12 feet deep, and in length anfwer- ing to the breadth of the area ; this joins to an apartment of the molt regular architecture, an oblong fquare, with a door in perfe*^ fym- metry ; and the whole executed in quite a contrary tafte and manner from any of the oldefl or befl Gen- too buildings any where extant. I took particular notice of fome paintings round the cornices, not for any thing curious in the defign, but for the beauty and frefhnefs of the colouring, which mult have lafted fome thoufands of years, on fuppofing it, as there is all reafon to fuppofe it, cotcmporary with the building itfelf. The floor of the apartment is generally full of water, its pavement or ground-work not permitting it to be drawn off, or to be foaked up. For it is to be obferved, that even the cavern it-

felf is not vifitable after the rains, until the ground of it has had time to dry into a competent hardnefs.

The reader too will pleafe toob- ferve, that in the dimenfions I haVe ventured to give, I am far from warranting the exaftnefs, any fur- ther than to the bell of my grofs guefs by the eye; and if any one Ihall hereafter, on a perfonal fur- vey, or on a competent draught of it, think I have exaggerated its importance, I hope he will only pity my mifapprehenfion, and ac^ quit me of any defign of impofing on him, by dealing in the marvel- lous, nothing being more certain, than that I have faid no more of it, than as it (truck me at the fight of ir, and dill remains on my me- mory.

This place too being fo near Bombay, affords the Engliili inha- bitants, not only an eafy opportu- nity of gratifying their curiofity, in vifiting fo remarkable a fpot, but occafionally a very agreeable party of pleafure. Sometimes, in their way thither, they dine at But- cher's Ifland, which is two miles nearer to Bombay, on account of the conveniency of the officer's hcufe to receive them, an enfign's guard being kept there. Others again prefer carrying their provi- fions with them, anddinein thecavc itfelf, than which, in the very fu!- trieli days of the heats, there cannot be imagined acooler pleafanter re- treat. For though the air be almoft on fire round you, you are no fooner entered the cave, than you are re- frefhed with a fenfible coolnefs; the three openings above mention- ed not only furnifhing futficient light, but a thorough draft of air, that does not To much convey frefhnefs into the cave, as it receives it from conllant temperature, pre- ferred