the ordinary lamp of
the country--was hardly seen in its far-off corner, when I unclosed
the jalousies, and admitted the solemn, silvery planet-light. The
window above the bath opened into the garden; and it is scarcely
possible to conceive greater physical enjoyment than reclining in the
warm element, listening to the soft sounds proceeding from
without--the castanet music of the singing-tree, the rustling of the
fan-palm, the trickling of the fountain: even the distant cry of the
retiring jackal was pleasant; whilst above the giant palms, I could
see the dark violet of the sky, on which the

----'Ship of Heaven
Came sailing from Eternity,'

and from whence Canopus threw its laughing lustre full on the water in
which I was immersed, and kept me for a time motionless, lest I should
break or mar its beautiful reflection. But every enjoyment has its
dark shadow: as life has its 'insect cares,' so Eastern night has its
mosquitoes; and a sore contest one has with them on issuing from the
bath at such an hour. How they flit about, imps of evil as they are,
and sound their horn of defiance in our ear!--a very marvellous sound
to proceed from such tiny creatures, and, to persons of irritable
nerves, worse even than their sting, or at least an additional horror.
They proved strong incentives to a hasty toilette; and the whole
gipsying-party was speedily assembled in the hall, where coffee and
biscuits were handed round. Then followed a pleasant drive through the
fresh morning air; and it was not without regret that we exchanged the
open carriages for the close imprisonment of the palanquins, in which
shortly after we threaded the mazes of the jungle. It was still early
morning when we reached the cave in which we purposed remaining
during the heat of the day. Outside, a tent had been pitched for
the servants; within, a splendid breakfast was spread for
ourselves--tables, chairs, food, and cooks having preceded the party
thither. Books and prints were also provided, to beguile the tedium of
our inevitable seclusion, and pleasant companionship promised a still
greater resource against _ennui_.

The caves of Salsette have been already so often described--once by
the pen of Heber--that I shall not attempt a repetition, but content
myself with informing my readers, that we occupied the large one,
dedicated to the ancient worship of the Buddhists; a gloomy temple,
but cool, and possessing a certain interest from having