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of Osirtesen I., subsequently adopted as the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple at Karnac, we find supporting piers, or columns, already reduced to a polygonal transverse section.

In the same reign, that of Osirtesen I., we meet with the earliest of the obelisks,—a monolith, or single block of granite, 67 feet in height.

Probably contemporary with the earliest of the Theban monuments were some of the tombs of Beni Hassan, which exhibit those features of the architectural façade, and the excavated pier or column, serving to support the roof of the cell, to which I have already alluded.

The great interest however of these early tombs is to be found in the decorations of their internal walls. Amongst these we meet with representations illustrating most admirably the manners and customs, the life, the faith, the works, of the profoundly interesting people by whom these structures were raised.

Although in point of date it is impossible to place the Indian cave-structures upon the same footing with those of Egypt, there yet reigns sufficient resemblance in certain of their leading features to make it desirable to allude to them before dwelling further upon the Egyptian structures which, under the Theban kings, constituted the bulk of what we usually regard as most characteristic in Egyptian temple-construction.

The earliest caves in India, those of Behar, are believed to date only from about the year 200 b.c. Those of Cuttack appear to be next in date.

Those at Ellora, which we know probably best from the popular engravings of the late William Daniell, date from the fifth century a.c. to the eighth or ninth, and are but imitations of the earlier caves. They are of vast extent, however, and produce much grandeur of effect. Although hewn out of the rock, they do not strictly constitute caves, since the rock has been cut away from them externally.