The bust, or trimurti as it is called, is entire with the exception of Brahma's two hands, which are quite de stroyed. On each side of the bust is seen a gigantic figure leaning on a dwarf, all much defaced. On the right is a large square compartment, loaded with a va riety of figures ; the largest of which, 16 feet high, is the consort of Seva, represented with one breast. The figure has lour arms, the foremost right hand leaning on the bull Nundi, the other grasps a Cobra di Capella, while the inner left hand bears a circular shield. The head is richly decorated. A male, bearing an instru ment resembling a trident, appears on the right hand; on the left a female holding a mace or sceptre. Brah ma is seen with four heads, sitting on a lotus, while, as it is supposed, Indra and Indranee are represented on an elephant near him. Here Vishnoo, with four arms, appears mounted on the shoulders of Garuda. Above this assemblage are seen small figures, in different atti tudes of adoration, supported by clouds. Correspond ing with this niche, is another on the left of the bust. Here two figures are conspicuous, the one a male 14 feet high, said to represent Seva; the other a female 10 feet, who is Parvati his wife. The circular rings, worn by the Hindoo women at present, are seen on the legs and wrists of the female ; the mode of braiding the hair the same ; and the countenance expressive of gen tleness. Vishnoo and Garuda are here pourtrayed as on the other niche, while the heads of most of the atten dant small figures have a whimsical appearance of co vering, exactly resembling our wigs. Niebuhr, one of the most intelligent travellers who have visited Elephan ta, not possessed of that knowledge of Eastern anti quities, requisite to illustrate and explain the sculp tures, from his own observation, has drawn conclusions rather fanciful than just. Of the figure, represented with one breast, he remarks, that it thence appears, that the story of the Amazons was not unknown to the In dians ; but this, beyond Niebuhr's assertion, we have no reason to suppose the case. It has been more reasona bly deduced, by those acquainted with Indian mytholo gy, that it is intended in this figure, considered as male and female, to represent the active power of Seva, as Bawani or Courage, and as Isani or the goddess of na ture. The above ingenious person appears to us not more happy in his conclusion of wigs being of Indian in vention. This peculiarity of feature in the symbols, we conceive to be of foreign extraction, and that the sculptor, in merely designing to represent curly and bushy hair, has given them the grotesque appearance of a wig. But these conjectures cannot detract.from Nie buhr's general merit as a traveller, who must be re garded as a person of singular intelligence and erudition. But we shall pursue our description of the remaining most remarkable figures.
On each side of the above described groups, is a dark room, or recess, formerly inaccessible to all, perhaps, but the Brahmins ; but now in undisputed possession of bats, scorpions, and snakes. On the left of the last men tioned assemblage, is observed another group, of which the most remarkable figure is a male, leading a female towards a majestic person seated in the corner of the Niche, his head covered like our judges on the bench. The countenance and attitude of the female are expres sive of timidity and reluctance. A male urges her for ward. Here several small figures are introduced. All the females have ornaments similar to those worn by the Hindoo women at present, round the wrists and legs ; the male's ornaments, bearing the same corres pondence, round the wrists alone, This resemblance, however, assists us but little in ascertaining the date of the sculptures; the same customs and dress have been in immemorial use among the natives of India, as at this day.
The attention is forcibly arrested by a figure on a niche of equal dimensions with the last, opposite to it, and 50 feet nearer the entrance of the cave. It is a gigantic half length of Seva, or the destroyer, in ac tion, represented with eight arms, and a belt of human skulls around his neck. A right hand grasps a sword uplifted to sever a victim. A Cobra di Capella rises under one arm; a human skull is conspicuous on the head. Small attendant figures are pourtrayed in dis tress and pain. Many of the figures are mutilated, as is the principal, whose aspect indicates unrelenting fierce ness.
On the other side of the cave, near one of the small rooms above mentioned, are seen Seva and his consort, represented sitting in the manner of the country at this day. A bull reclines at the feet of Seva ; in each cor ner of the niche stands a gigantic guard. On each side of the entrance, is a niche loaded with figures, all much defaced and mutilated. In an apartment, half way up the cave, is inclosed the lingum. The space is entered on the four sides, where are placed eight colossal statues differently decorated. Compartments on both sides of the great cave, separated from it by large fragments of rock, which perhaps formerly composed the roof, pre sent several pieces of sculpture ; the most remarkable is Ganesea, or the Hindoo God of AVisdom, with a human body and an elephant's head, such as he is represented in the temples throughout India.
The cave and its decorations appear evidently to be dedicated to Seva the destroyer. A conviction of the harmony of the proportions of these gigantic figures, reconciles the mind to view them with complacency. Many of them were measured by a scale of proportions, allowed to be the most correct ; and were found not to deviate more from the standard, than the disproportions which the configuration of the human body daily pre sents. Other excavations are in the vicinity, but being still unexplored, they are probably of comparative insig nificance.
The islanders, who are said to have fled hither from the opposite island of Salsette, to avoid the persecution of the Portuguese, and who now live in tranquillity un der their Banyan tree, say the cave was formed by the gods ; nor has a much more satisfactory account yet been traced, than what these simple people give, at least with regard to the date of its construction. Marks of dilapidation and ruin are evident throughout the whole structure. This mutilation is said to have been the ef fect of the Portuguese cannon, dragged to the spot for the purpose of desolating the shrines of idolatry. How often is the page of the history of nations stained by fanaticism assuming the features of the most sanguina ry superstition, while, in the pursuit of the objects of its vengeance, it erases the fairest monuments of art, and abandons itself up to every species of outrage and licen tiousness ! However characteristic persecution and the sword may be, of the spirit of Mahometanism, they find no sanction from the mild and benevolent doctrines of Christianity.
The cave of Elephanta, like the excavations near El lora, is the work of a people among whom the arts have attained a high state of perfection. There, labour and skill are displayed in a degree much superior to that necessary to construct the pyramids. The one exhibits the toil of barbarous slavery, the other the genius of a civilized and scientific nation. Asiatic literature having been followed through its thousand streams, at this mo ment, the gods of India stand revealed in their various attributes, almost as clearly as the deities of Greece and Rome; yet has the research failed to deduce science from its parent source, and to reflect much light on the dark page of the history of that splendid xra, when Asia eclipsed all nations in works of magnificence and art. Egyptian priests are believed to have come from the Nile to the Ganges, and it may be inferred from the immovable prejudices and self-sufficiency of the Brah mins, not as their preceptors, but rather to be instructed than to instruct. We know Egypt to have been the fountain of knowledge for the western, and India for the eastern regions of the globe ; hut which of the two na tions can boast of priority of claim to the arts and sciences, remains a doubt. We are ignorant of what the learned of Memphis wrote concerning India, and the sages of Benares give but obscure accounts of Egypt. Indeed, Ilindoo testimony, from its preposterous claims to antiquity, is entitled to little belief. We are abun dantly warranted in supposing that a connexion sub sisted between the ancient idolatrous nations, and that Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, and Italians emanated from one central point, from thence scattering their different arts and knowledge, along with themselves, over the world. See Asiatic Researches, vol. iv. ; Tra vels ; and M. Graham's Journal of a Residence in India. (w. T.)