1. We are here at a loss, equally as in the case of Egypt, to determine whether or not the construction of Indian pyramids preceded that of their excavations. To construct a pyramid of rude stones, is certainly a much simpler operation than forming a cavern ornamented with sculpture; so that although it may be conceived that mankind might, for the purposes of worship, make use of the simple plain cavern, either natural or artifi cial, previous to the construction of buildings of great magnitude on the surface, yet it is not very probable that the splendid excavations of Elephanta and Vellore, in which were rich sculptures, and even pyramids cut out of the solid rock, could have preceded a rude pyramid on the surface. But as the purposes to which the pyra mids of Deogur and Tanjore are appropriated partake very much of the nature of the cavern, their entrance doors being very small, their interior being lighted by means of lamps, and the middle chamber by one lamp only, there is some reason for supposing, that, in places where rocky eminences were not conveniently situated, or from motives now unknown, some change of ideas taking place, these pyramids might he constructed for purposes similar to the original cavern or grotto, in the same manner as the Egyptian pyramids are considered to have been done with regard to the tombs of the The baid. The external faces of the pyramids of Deogur and Tanjore are very rude, as will be shewn under the word PYRAMID, to which we must refer the reader.
2. In regard to excavations, they are numerous and extensive. In some instances, they are very simple and plain ; in others, highly ornamented with architectural forms and sculptures. From Captain Wilson's paper in the 6th vol. of the Asiatic Researches, we learn, that an extensive branch of the Caucasus was named by the Greeks, Parapamis, from Para Vami, the pure and ex cellent city of Vami, commonly called Bamaiya. It is situated on the road between Balkh and Cabul, where vast numbers of apartments are cut out of the rocks, some of them so large as to be supposed temples. And Abul Fazel says, that in the Soubah of Cashmere, in the mid dle of the mountains, 12,000 apartments were cut in the solid rock. At this place there were 700 places where the figure of a serpent was sculptured. Although neither the precise form nor dimensions are given, yet from the great number of excavations, and the place being noticed by the Greeks, it must have, in former ages, been of im portance at least for its sanctity ; and its situation be tween India and Persia, renders it still an interesting subject of enquiry.
In other parts of India, the excavated temples have fallen more frequently under the observation of well-in formed scientific persons, who have, with laudable in dustry, furnished the public with exact representations, and full details respecting them. The three principal ones, and which our limits will only enable us to notice, are, Elephanta, Salsette, and Vellore or Ellora.