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amidst the tangled foliage below us. The inhabitants of this lone village, the only one I believe on the island, appeared to be a race quite different from those of Bombay; and as we saw many fishing nets spread out to dry, I concluded, that they derived their principal support from the sea that surrounds them. 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 rude figures which had once repre-sented men, but which were now defaced, and almost destroyed by long exposure to the atmosphere; besides being overgrown by the roots and branches of trees that shot out from the rock above them. 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 floor and sides 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 up 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.

We rested here some time, the view from this elevated position being very imposing and extensive. Dark 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 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 long arrow-grass and prickly thorns, before it was possible for the ladies to attempt to descend the hill. However, with some slight difficulties, such as the tearing of veils, and catching of flounces, we made our way through these obstacles that concealed the pathway and the guide, and found ourselves suddenly standing before the great cavern pagoda, or

Temple of Elephanta-a place which once boasted of more pilgrims to its many shrines, than ever visited the shrine 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 all felt 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, of which, from the elevated spot which we occupied, we had an excellent view. 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 shore, near Sion Fort, 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 in this 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

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saw that it was neither more nor less than a fine, fullgrown tiger. The beast, having given himself two or three shakes, like a Newfoundland dog, trotted quietly up the beach, towards some small 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. officers, two or three of whom had fire-arms, boldly hastened towards the scene of danger; but before they had got within shot of him, the monarch of the jungle quitted his hold of the child, walked back quietly to the sea, and had swam 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 Bombay, and the officer who had shot the tiger received a good sum from the East India Company. The sum they had offered for every lion and tiger shot in the country, was, I believe, twenty pounds for a lion, and fifteen 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 a similar 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.

Numberless pilgrimages have been made by the lovers of antiquities, to this subterranean temple, termed by Mr. Maurice, "the wonder of Asia," the excavation of which has been attributed to Semiramis, as well as to the great Alexander. Three spacious entrances are afforded between four rows of massive columns in the brow of the hill, about half-way up its steep ascent from the shore. For a few seconds after entering the cave, I could distinguish nothing; the change was so sudden, from the broad light outside, to the darkness within: but at length its extent and extraordinary sculptures gradually revealed themselves to my astonished gaze. I am anxious to present to my readers a minute and correct description of what I saw here, and I had each figure and compartment particularly explained to me at the time, by a gentleman well

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