which runs along the bottom, and then wander until daybreak under the
windows of the bungalow. Lastly, there were the mad dacoits, whose dens
are scattered in mountains inaccessible to the police, who often shoot
Europeans simply to afford themselves the pleasure of sending ad patres
one of the hateful bellatis (foreigners). Three days before our arrival
the wife of a Brahman disappeared, carried off by a tiger, and two
favorite dogs of the commandant were killed by snakes. We declined to
wait for further explanations, but hurried to our rooms. At daybreak we
were to start for Karli, six miles from this place.

In The Karli Caves

At five o'clock in the morning we had already arrived at the limit, not
only of driveable, but, even, of rideable roads. Our bullock-cart could
go no further. The last half mile was nothing but a rough sea of stones.
We had either to give up our enterprise, or to climb on all-fours up an
almost perpendicular slope two hundred feet high. We were utterly at
our wits' end, and meekly gazed at the historical mass before us, not
knowing what to do next. Almost at the summit of the mountain, under
the overhanging rocks, were a dozen black openings. Hundreds of pilgrims
were crawling upwards, looking, in their holiday dresses, like so many
green, pink, and blue ants. Here, however, our faithful Hindu friends
came to our rescue. One of them, putting the palm of his hand to his
mouth, produced a strident sound something between a shriek and a
whistle. This signal was answered from above by an echo, and the next
moment several half naked Brahmans, hereditary watchmen of the temple,
began to descend the rocks as swiftly and skillfully as wild cats.
Five minutes later they were with us, fastening round our bodies strong
leathern straps, and rather dragging than leading us upwards. Half an
hour later, exhausted but perfectly safe, we stood before the porch
of the chief temple, which until then had been hidden from us by giant
trees and cactuses.

This majestic entrance, resting on four massive pillars which form a
quadrangle, is fifty-two feet wide and is covered with ancient moss and
carvings. Before it stands the "lion column," so-called from the four
lions carved as large as nature, and seated back to back, at its base.
Over the principal entrance, its sides covered with colossal male
and female figures, is a huge arch, in front of which three gigantic
elephants are sculptured in relief, w