leaf looking as if it were a butterfly, and the
whole flower forming a group of them lit upon a stem. Urns, from which
drooped variegated flowers, relieved by wreathing smilax, ornamented
the posts of gates, and lined the smooth, white graveled paths about the
verandas of these suburban palaces in miniature. The flora of our best
kept green-houses here bloomed out of doors in wild luxuriance, but not
a familiar tree was to be seen. In place of elms, maples, pines, and
oaks, there were tall, slender palms, fig-trees, mangoes, and whole
groves of bananas bending under the weight of the long, finger-like
fruit. Verily, these Parsees, in spite of their bigotry and their
adherence to ancient superstitions, know how to make their homes
beautiful.

There was one institution visited in Bombay which is, so far as we know,
unique, commending itself however, to every philanthropist, namely, An
Asylum for Aged and Decrepit Animals. Here were found birds and beasts
suffering under various afflictions, carefully tended and nursed as
human beings are in a well-regulated hospital. The origin of the
establishment was due to a philanthropic native who some years ago left
a large sum of money, on his decease, for this purpose, so thoroughly in
accordance with his religious convictions. Within the last ten years
several liberal endowments have been added, all by natives, until the
institution is now self-supporting. We were told of a new bequest, just
added, which would enable the trustees to enlarge certain premises.
Liberal visitors are also frequently inclined to leave a few dollars to
encourage so worthy an institution. Bullocks, cows, dogs, and cats,
otherwise homeless, here find good care, food, and shelter. The yard and
buildings cover about two acres of ground, where the animals are only so
far confined as to insure their own comfort and safety. None of them are
ever killed, but are well cared for until Nature herself closes the
scene for them. One horse, which we noticed, was swung by belly straps
so that his hind feet were quite off the floor; a case, as was
explained, where one of his hind legs had been broken, but which had now
so nearly healed that the animal would be able to stand once more upon
his feet--not to work, but to live out his allotted days in peace. In
America, or indeed nearly anywhere else, a horse with a broken leg is at
once deprived of life. All through the East, but especially in India,
there is, as a rule,