Page:The Rock-cut Temples of India.djvu/9

 The Rock-cut Temples of India preface.jpg

PREFACE.

a lengthened residence in India it was my good fortune to be able to visit in succession all the principal groups of Rock-cut Temples which, were then known to exist in that country.

In 1836 those of Cuttack were first examined. In 1838 an extended tour was made for the purpose of exploring those of Western India, and in 1841 the investigation was completed by a visit to those of Mahavellipore, in the Madras Presidency The intervals that elapsed between these several dates were  useful for correcting the vagueness of first impressions, and in enabling me to fill up the gaps in my knowledge of Indian  architecture, by examining cotemporary structural buildings, and studying other cognate sources of information.

The results of these investigations were embodied in a paper which was read to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1843, and published in the Eighth Volume of its Journal.

This paper was afterwards republished in 1845, accompanied by nineteen lithographic plates, in folio, illustrating the principal types of Rock-cut Architecture in India. iii