Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/180

146 BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE. BOOK I. work or centering of wood standing free (Woodcut No. 6g This, so far as we can judge, is, like the ribs of the interior, coeval with the building ; l at all events, if it has been renewed, it is an exact copy of the original form, for it is found repeated in stone in all the niches of the facade, over the doorways, and generally as an ornament everywhere, and, with the 70. View of Interior of Cave at Karle. (From a Photograph.) Buddhist "rail," copied from Sanchi, forms the most usual ornament of the style. The sculpture on the screen wall between the doors is mostly of much later date than the cave itself. All the figures of Buddha there represented are of late date and belong to the 1 About 1870 it was reported that this screen was in danger of falling outwards, and I wrote repeatedly to India begging that something might be done to preserve it ; this was eventually effected, but by "restoration" rather than by judicious repair. Only a small portion of the original ribbing of the Bhaja cave now remains. That of the Bedsa cave was destroyed about 1 86 1 ('Journal Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society,' vol. viii. p. 223) ; and it would be a thousand pities if this, which is the only original screen in India, were allowed to perish when a very small outlay would save it. Like the Iron pillar at Meharaull close to Delhi, which never rusts, teak wood that does not decay, though exposed to the atmosphere for 2000 years, is a phenomenon worth the attention not only of antiquaries, but of natural philosphers.