Page:The Rock-cut Temples of India.djvu/167



HE paintings that once adorned this Cave are now almost entirely obliterated, except those on the roof. Those which exist consist of frets and flowers, but do not possess any particular interest beyond showing the connexion of this Cave with the Viharas 16 and 17, whose paintings are identical in style.

This Cave has been used as a workshop and occasional residence by Major Gill during the twenty years he has remained at Ajunta, and were it not for the difficulty of procuring sufficient light in the interior, there can be no doubt but that their dryness and equable temperature would render these caves very pleasant places to live in.

With this Cave the great central group terminates in this direction; and it will now be necessary to describe the third group, consisting of the first seven Caves in the north, and then to take up the fourth, though probably cotemporary group, consisting of the last six at the southern end. 35