fortune to a slight shock of an earthquake; others to the gradual decay of the black stone out of which the statue is carved; and this last opinion appears to be reasonable; for, with a little effort, it is easy to detach large scales from the stone. Not far from the elephant stands the figure of a horse cut out from the same material, and called the Horse of Alexander; in memory, as some suppose, of Alexander the Great; to whom, with no greater probability, have also been attributed the excavations to which this island owes its celebrity. Alexander, as I should imagine, in the midst of his great designs and great achievements, had matters of greater importance to attend to than the carving of Hindoo deities in this unimportant island. Be this as it may, the stone horse of Elephanta is still attributed to him; and as India was one of his last conquests, it is just possible, that he might pay a visit to this small island. We But to proceed; we found the path very steep and rugged, and moreover encumbered by loose stones; the late rains having carried away much of the soil, and thus rendered our footing very insecure. saw some very fine tamarind trees hung with their long green pods, but not sufficiently ripe to be gathered. The tamarind is a beautiful, spreading tree. Its leaves are wing-shaped or pinnated abruptly, being composed of sixteen or eighteen pairs of bright green leaflets growing on the same stem, and covered with a fine silky down. Its flowers grow in loose bunches, and rise from the sides of the branches. The calix and petals are of a yellow tinge, variegated with red veins. The fruit is generally preserved in India without any syrup. The natives consider it dangerous to sleep during the night under tamarind trees. Many splendid flowers here attracted my attention. Some had fine trumpet-shaped blossoms wide enough to cover a breakfast cup. That curious palm the Chamaerops humilis, or Corypha umbracula of botanists, better known as the punkah or fan-palm, spread out its circle of united leaves proceeding from a short, stiff footstalk. This plant appeared to flourish well here; for we saw dozens of it in various stages of growth; some so young as not to have burst from their cases; others, many feet high, and stiff and dry to the touch: sounding like cardboard when struck. There was something so very artificial about these vegetable wonders, fringed round with a sort of defensive armour like spear-points, that it was difficult to believe they were actually growing. The natives of India have very naturally converted them into fans and shades; in fact, they only require to be dried, to answer these purposes. The Chinese gather them very young, and place them in a press, where they remain till quite dry, and sufficiently flat to be painted upon. Birds and figures are often beautifully executed upon them; after which they are highly varnished, made into fans or screens, and attached to ornamental handles. The inferior leaves have the natural stalk for a handle, and can be purchased for an anna, or so, in the bazaars at Bombay. In situations favourable to its growth and free expansion, this palm attains a considerable size, and adds greatly to the beauty of Indian forest-scenery, casting a grateful shadow over the weary wayfarer when the sun has risen upon the earth. After a quarter of an hour's journey up the hill, many falls, and other disasters, of such a kind, however, as rather to increase the merriment of our party, we suddenly came within view of a village composed of a rambling collection of mud huts, not unlike those seen in the North of Ireland, and, to all apppearance, as neat and comfortable. Having walked about a quarter of a mile further, we halted under the shadow of an overhanging rock, in which was excavated a large chamber. On each side of the entrance to this chamber were figures which had once represented men, but which were now defaced and almost destroyed by long exposure to the atmosphere; besides being overgrown by the roots and branches of surrounding trees. The doorway formed an imperfect triangle (a figure seen in Egyptian architecture) but without the projecting slab on the top. I peeped in, but was repelled, by its very uninviting appearance, from exploring this chamber, the sides and floor of which were coated with a slimy sort of mud that had filtered through the hill; besides this, some one spoke of snakes and centipedes as taking their lodging there; and that decided me at once. There seemed to be a rude altar erected in the centre; but all was gloomy, and of course very indistinctly seen from the outside. I threw in a few stones, which had the effect of startling two or three strange birds, which flew out, and disappeared quickly in the woods, as if not accustomed to the glare of broad day. up We rested here some time; the view from this elevated position being very imposing and extensive. Deep shadows were cast upon the sea from the adjoining land; and the objects on the Mahratta coast, which before had been but indistinctly seen, were now brought out into fine relief by the sunshine, which quite changed the character of the landscape, though without in the least detracting from its beauty. There was a sweet tranquillity about the place at this hour. Everything that had life had sought the shade of the woods; and even the gaudy butterfly, that "child of the sun," had folded his burnished and many tinted wings, and had hid himself for protection, in the cups of the drooping flowers; the very air itself was still, and laden with grateful odours. As it was noon, the heat was intense, and some of our party were but little inclined to leave the shade of the rock, which, with its overhanging foliage, formed a gorgeous canopy above us. A brief walk however, brought us into a fresh path which wound round the mountain, and led us to its opposite side. Here the scenery bore a different character; and the gentlemen of the party had to walk first, in order to beat down with sticks the arrow-grass and prickly cactus, before it was possible for the ladies to attempt to descend the hill. However, with some slight difficulties, such as tearing of veils, and catching of flounces, we made our way through the dense woods, and found ourselves suddenly standing before the great cave or TEMPLE OF ELEPHANTA; a place which once boasted of more pilgrims to its many shrines, than ever visited the tomb of the holy prophet at Mecca. We were all glad that our fatigues were over; and no one perhaps more so than myself; for I had not yet become inured to the climate. Heated as we were, we were all afraid of exposing ourselves too soon to the cool temperature of the inviting cavern that yawned before us; so, while we sat resting ourselves, one of our party beguiled the time by relating an anecdote having reference to the island of Salsette, which, from the elevated spot which we occupied, is distinctly visible. This anecdote, as it has strict truth to recommend it, I shall now present to my readers; and we may call it a TALE OF A TIGER. Some years ago (for I cannot be certain as to the exact time,) a party of officers from the barracks were strolling along the shore, a few miles above the Fort at Bombay, when one of them who was on the look-out for stray game, perceived something which had evidently left Salsette,* swimming towards Bombay; and, to all appearance, likely to land near the spot on which they stood. As the natives never bathe or swim in • This island, which is close to Bombay, appears not to have been included in the dower given to the Infanta of Portugal on her marriage with Charles II. in 1662. After the Company had transferred the Presidency from SURAT to BOMBAY, the English were very anxious to obtain possession of this rich and beautiful island, to which they laid claim; but the Portuguese took a different view of the marriage-treaty, and persisted in retaining Salsette. However, in 1773, during the confusion of a civil war which followed the assassination of Narrain Row, the principal fort was stormed; the English took quiet possession of the island of Salsette; and have ever since retained it. This island is to the north of Bombay. It is very fertile; producing rice, sugar, fruit, sheep, &c., &c. It contains several ancient Hindoo temples. the bay on account of the sharks which infest it, the whole party felt satisfied that it was not a man. On a sudden it altered its course, and landed higher up than was expected; when, greatly to the astonishment of the officers, they saw, that it was neither more nor less than a fine, full-grown tiger. The beast having given himself two or three shakes, like a Newfoundland dog, trotted quietly up the beach towards some cottages, and seized, near the door of one of them, a little child who was there playing, and whom he had no doubt marked as he was swimming. The shrieks of the terrified child brought out from the cottages a few persons, who, however, on learning the circumstances of the case, disappeared again as quickly as they had come. The officers, two or three of whom had fire-arms, boldly hastened towards the sce scene of danger; but before they had got within shot of him, the monarch of the jungle quitted his hold of the child; walked quietly back to the sea, and had swum about twenty yards back again, when a ball from a rifle put a stop to his progress. He reared up in the water, plunged violently once or twice, and then disappeared beneath the discoloured waves. A canoe was soon procured, and after some trouble the noble animal was dragged on shore in triumph, amid the cheers of numbers who had been attracted to the spot. The skin was taken to the barracks, and the officer who had shot the tiger received a good sum from the East India Company. The sum which they had offered for every lion and tiger shot in the country, was, I believe, fifty pounds for a lion, and twentyfive pounds for a tiger; but I am not quite certain as to the amount. This was the last tiger killed or seen near Bombay, and was supposed to have swum over to Salsette from the main land; as that island, after this invasion, was pretty well hunted up, by many an adventurous party, in the hope of gaining the governor's reward, but without success. This little story was related to me by a brother of the gallant officer of the rifle. The child, most fortunately, was more frightened than hurt. During the time occupied by the relation of this thoroughly Indian anecdote, and by the conversation to which it gave rise, our party had become cool; and, accordingly, we prepared to enter THE CAVE. (To be continued.) THE DEAF AND DUMB MAN CURED. MARK Vii. 34. BY MRS. ABDY. OH! merciful Saviour, still graciously showing Though few by privations like his are afflicted, The world's faintest whisper, or half-spoken sentence, But when call'd by Thy prophets to shame and repentance, Our speech is pour'd forth in unsparing profusion, But worldlings esteem Thy blest name an intrusion, Lord, ope the deaf ears-may they greet, with enjoyment, When profitless triflers invite our attention, But though little the world's fickle notice we treasure, |