The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-01-25
GORGEOUS TEMPLES.
A Visit to Daulatabad and the Go.
lossal Caves of EIlora.
Tho Mighty Fertilization That Could Defy
the Armies of the world-Unsur-
passed Beauty and Grandeur
That BafEies Description.

The following graphic description O
the wonderful fortified rock of Daula
tabad and the colossal caves of Flor
are taken from letter written by Rev
G. Irwin Stone, missionary in India, I,
his parents at Berea, O.:
We left Bombay on the evening O
the 9Th OF August for Aurangabad, ant
lourneyed from ten p. m. to six a. m
by train, when we took a two-wheelet
carriage called a tonga for Auranga
bad, which is 81 miles from the rail
road station. We finished our tongs
journey at three p. M, well stirred u.
by the rough roads, and the rapid driv.
ing, but after all it was delightful, be.
cause 1t was something new.
Aurangabad contained in the DAYS OF
its glory 100000 inhabitants, and was
inclosed by a colossal wall over miles
in circumference, very high and wide.
and strongly built, which stands to this
day. The glory Of that great heather
capital has passed away, and at the
present time only about 10000 people
live there, and they are mostly poor.
On Monday, August -, our host with
his family started with us for two
days excursion to visit the great forti-
fed rock called Daulatabad and the
colossal caves Of Ellora. They loaded a
bullock cart with provisions, bedding,
etc., and sent them on before us with
servants IA miles away to the Travellers
Bungalow, which is situated on noun
tain plateau directly over the caves, and
where we were to remain for the night
and take our meals.
The fortiication of Daulatabad beinp
half way to the caves, we made arrange
ments to visit this wonderful place bv
procuring passes and guides. This place
Is one OF the many things on the earth
hard to describe on account of its vast
ness. Even after saw it it seemed to
me more like dream than reality.
Daulatabad is circular shaped noun
tain OF solid rock rising out of the plain
700 feet. Its diameter is one-half mile,
and it appears when a number of miles
away like monster hay stack. The
outer wall of the fort is two and three
fourths miles in circumference, 20 feet
high, and 30 feet thick, surrounded by
wide deep moat. This outer wall does
not surround the circular rock, as it is
only an outer fortification to the en-
trance of the fortress. Passing through
the massive gateway, the gates of which |
are covered with huge iron spikes. which |
were placed there to prevent the ele-
plants OF an enemy in times of battle |
from battering down the gates, we drive
half mile before reaching the more
strongly fortified entrance to the fort
ress. This inner fort, or fortress, is also
surrounded by broad moat. In the
outer wall are four entrance gates, but
there is only one entrance to the fort
ress, that is to say, eight strongly forti-
ned gateways, one after another. all
leading in the same direction, that is to
the great rock. Before reaching the
entrance gate of the fortress is a narrow
roadway crossing the second moat, on
each side of which stands very strongly
built stone pillar. The one on the right
hand side has two deep horizontal
square holes, one above the other, each
one containing piece of teak wood
timber Is inches square and IA feet long.
These timbers in times of war were
frawn across the roadway like bars and
fastened on the inside with iron pins SO
hat the enemy could not move them.
Besides these timbers were immense
'hains OF iron to span the road from
pillar to pillar, so that the war elephants
'ould not reach the bridge crossing the
noat.
Fifty feet farther on, after passing ,
his moat we come to the massive gate-
way OF the fortress, each door of the ! ,
rate being 20 feet high, feet wide and {
inches thick, plated, banded and ,
piked with iron. Over each gateway :
re overhanging turrets (Bartizans)
where the guards constantly lived to | i
'rotect the entrance. Immediately go I
ng through each gateway was q sharp | I
urn into strongly-fortified courtyard. a
Which could not contain more than 100 I
rmed men at one time. We went on r
ntil we had passed through four sim (
liarly fortified gateways and courtyards. I
After passing through the fourth gate '
re entered long narrow street built '
pom either side with most curiouslr- I
haped buildings, that ere said to have d
cen the fronts of fortified palaces of !,
ne mobiles. We pass along this narrow 4
oadway for nearly aquarter OF mile i
nth We reach another strong gate. b
eselng through this We make the =