DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0161
CAVES OF ELLORA. 135
thought myself obliged to communicate to the world, as well
for their satisfaction, as the justification of my own conduct.
4 Dec. 8, 1726. R. Manningham.’
•>////✓/✓////✓/<•
CAVES OF ELLORA,
called keylas, or paradise.
A Description of the wonderful Caves of Ellora, in the
East Indies, taken from the very entertaining Journal of
Lieut. Col. Fitzclarence, extracted from a Letter written
by him the 28 th of January, 1818, from Rowash.
a Having returned, though dreadfully fatigued, I will not
permit my feelings to pass away, without recording them on
a more secure tablet than that of my memory. My eyes and
mind are absolutely satiated with the wonders I have seen :
the first are weary with objects so gigantic and extraordinary,
to which they were totally unaccustomed : from the admira-
tion which I experienced of these early and stupendous
works of human genius, of unremitting toil and perseve-
rance, of the religion which had effected a labour so immense
and remarkable, and so prodigious an undertaking, a work
which has successively withstood the barbarous attempts of
the Mahometans, and outlived the name or era of its founder,
which is hidden in the most remote antiquity. The Bramins
and the Hindoo nations, in their original purity, long before
our era, had the power, and made the various changes
which have taken place throughout India within the last
2000 years. I was struck with astonishment as I stood in
Keylas, casting a rapid glance over the stupendous monu-
ments of art before me had arisen, I sought in vain for an in-
cident in the lapse of time, w7hich could convey an equal con-
ception of the power of man over matter. A period of time
has elapsed since the first excavation of the Caves of Ellora,
so immense, that even their sanctity has been effaced; for,
though containing in a perfect state the deities at this mo«
thought myself obliged to communicate to the world, as well
for their satisfaction, as the justification of my own conduct.
4 Dec. 8, 1726. R. Manningham.’
•>////✓/✓////✓/<•
CAVES OF ELLORA,
called keylas, or paradise.
A Description of the wonderful Caves of Ellora, in the
East Indies, taken from the very entertaining Journal of
Lieut. Col. Fitzclarence, extracted from a Letter written
by him the 28 th of January, 1818, from Rowash.
a Having returned, though dreadfully fatigued, I will not
permit my feelings to pass away, without recording them on
a more secure tablet than that of my memory. My eyes and
mind are absolutely satiated with the wonders I have seen :
the first are weary with objects so gigantic and extraordinary,
to which they were totally unaccustomed : from the admira-
tion which I experienced of these early and stupendous
works of human genius, of unremitting toil and perseve-
rance, of the religion which had effected a labour so immense
and remarkable, and so prodigious an undertaking, a work
which has successively withstood the barbarous attempts of
the Mahometans, and outlived the name or era of its founder,
which is hidden in the most remote antiquity. The Bramins
and the Hindoo nations, in their original purity, long before
our era, had the power, and made the various changes
which have taken place throughout India within the last
2000 years. I was struck with astonishment as I stood in
Keylas, casting a rapid glance over the stupendous monu-
ments of art before me had arisen, I sought in vain for an in-
cident in the lapse of time, w7hich could convey an equal con-
ception of the power of man over matter. A period of time
has elapsed since the first excavation of the Caves of Ellora,
so immense, that even their sanctity has been effaced; for,
though containing in a perfect state the deities at this mo«