a kind consideration for animals that is in marked
contrast to the treatment they so often receive in what we term more
civilized countries. Under the plea of humanity we take the life of most
ailing animals in the Western world, but not so in Bombay. Horses,
donkeys, cows, cats, dogs, and monkeys, sick or injured by accident,
will be at once taken into this establishment, on application, and
kindly cared for, free of all expense, until natural death ensues.

A visit to the Island of Elephanta, in the outer harbor of Bombay,
situated about ten miles from the city, will afford all strangers much
gratification. A small excursion steamer, tug-boat size, was chartered
for our purpose, and with a favoring current took us down to the island
in an hour, but was twice as long in working her way back against the
tide. It was quite a picnic affair, our refreshments being taken with us
from the hotel, and a nice table spread on board the little boat, where
we lunched with that best of sauce, a good appetite. This famous island
is about six miles in circumference, covered with a thick undergrowth of
bushes and some fine specimens of tropical trees. It derives its name
from a colossal stone elephant which once stood near the present
landing, and formed a conspicuous object visible far away. This monument
was thrown down many years ago by some convulsion of nature, and now
lies overgrown by vines and bushes, hidden beneath tamarind and
banana-trees. As the shore is shelving, the depth of water will not
permit boats to approach very near; so that the landing is made over a
series of large, deep-sunken stepping-stones, rather slippery and
dangerous for one without a cool head. After having landed there is
still nearly a thousand irregular steps to ascend before reaching the
plateau, where the mouth of the famous temple is entered.

We found this cave temple with its front half hidden by a wild growth of
luxuriant vines and foliage. The cavity is hewn out of the solid rock,
extending nearly two hundred feet directly into the hill-side. It was
strange and incongruous in aspect,--a sort of conglomeration of
sensualism, religious ideas, and Buddhist idols. Most of the school
geographies of our childhood depict this entrance of the Cave of
Elephanta, supported by carved pillars, hewn out of the rock just where
they stand, part and parcel of it. The roof is supported by many carved
pillars, also similarly hewn out of the native stone. Some o