Page:The Rock-cut Temples of India.djvu/235



HE doorway that leads into the Cave No. 21 has the same elegance, but the same littleness as all the other parts of this Vihara, and with a tendency towards Hindooism indicative of its modern date. It is still however, so free from the extravagance that too generally prevailed in Indian architecture, after the tenth or eleventh century, that there can be no doubt about its being earlier than that epoch.

Internally its paintings are now nearly obliterated, except on the wall on your left hand as you enter, where there still exists a large figure of Buddha, of a black complexion, or at least very dark, but with red hair, and attended by black slaves. There are several ladies introduced into the composition, but notwithstanding the blackness of their companions they are here, as in most other Caves, represented with complexions almost as fair as Europeans. 52