Fergusson, James; Burgess, James: The cave temples of India (London, 1880)

AJANTA. 315

conquest of its Rakshasi inhabitants.1 Fortunately a very reduced
copy of this scene has been preserved in the accompanying wood-
cut, No. 61. It is rapidly being destroyed by the native official
who has done so much mischief also in Cave XVI. The march, the
landing on elephants and horses from boats, with the struggle on
the shore, and the ahhislieklia or anointing of the king, are vividly
portrayed.

Though on too small a scale to do justice to them, the two last
woodcuts (Nos. 60 and 61) are probably sufficient to convey an idea
of the mode in which historical subjects are treated in these caves.
The grade of art and the mode of treatment is very similar to that
shown in the nearly contemporary hunting scenes at Takt-i-Bostan
in Persia.2 As nearly at least as sculpture, which is there em-
ployed by Chosroes, can be compared with painting, which is the
mode of representation here adopted. Neither can be said to be the
highest class of art, but they are wonderfully graphic, and tell their
story with a distinctness not often found in works of a higher order
of design.

In the front aisle Indra appears as an aged mendicant before Sibi
Raja and his queen, begging for an eye. Here we are at no loss,
for Sibi and Indra appear twice over, with their names written on
them.3 Besides these there are many interesting scenes depicted
on the walls of this fine cave.

Cave XVIII. is merely a porch, 19 feet 4 inches by 8 feet 10 inches,
with two pillars, apparently intended as a passage into the next
cave.

Cave XIX.—This is the third of the Chaitya caves, and differs
0I1ly in its details from Nos. IX. and X. As will be seen from the
Plan, Plate XXXVIL, fig. 1, it is 24 feet wide by 46 feet long and

According to the legends Vijaya Sifihala went to the island of Ceylon with a large

ollowmg; the Rakshasis inhabiting it captivated them by their charms, but Sifihala

^rned in a dream escaped on a wonderful horse. He collected an army, gave each

0 . a magic mantra, and returned. Falling upon the Rakshasis with great impe

losity, he totally routed them, some fleeing the island, and others being drowned in tin

it t> flestr°yed their town and established himself as king in the island, he gavi

'l4 !ame of SiBaala. Conf. Stan. Julien, Mem. sur les Cont. Occid., t. ii. pp. 131-

, ' ^Mlay's Fa Hian, note by Landresse, p. 338 ; Mrs. Speir, p. 301.

3 Z* Porter> Travels in Persia, vol. ii. p. 64.

iJataha is also represented in the Amaravati sculptures, Tree and Serj>.
***» pp. 194, 225, and Piate LXXXUI., Fig. 1, and see above, p. 285.

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