ed by their fair
complexions, and the large thin gold rings, with three or four pearls
strung upon them, worn in a hole perforated through the nostril, and
hanging below their mouths."

"And what are those immense towers on the other side of the bay?"

"They were built by the Parsees, as depositories for the dead; on the
summit is a wide iron grating, upon which the bodies are laid, to be
devoured by the birds of prey; when stripped, the bones fall through the
iron bars into the receptacle below. They never bury their dead.--But
breakfast must be ready, so we had better return. You have much to see
here. The caves of Elephanta and Canara are well worthy of your
attention--and I shall be happy to attend you, when you feel inclined to
pay a visit to them."

They did not fail to profit by the offer, and before the week had passed
away, they had witnessed those splendid monuments of superstition and
idolatry. The _Aspasia_ received her orders, and Hommajee Baba, being
paid the due proportion of his bill, received his certificate from
Courtenay, in the usual form, and so far from being affronted, requested
the honour of being again employed in their services if ever they should
return to Bombay.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

These are not foes
With whom it would be safe to strive in honour.
They will repay your magnanimity,
Assassin-like, with secret stabs.
ANON.

The strength of the monsoon had blown over, and Captain M---, in
pursuance of his orders, beat across the Bay of Bengal, for the Straits
of Sumatra, where he expected to fall in with some of the enemy's
privateers, who obtained their supplies of water in that direction.
After cruising for six weeks without success, they fell in with an armed
English vessel, who informed them that she had been chased by a large
pirate proa, and had narrowly escaped--acquainting Captain M--- with the
islet from which she had sallied out in pursuit of them, and to which
she had in all probability returned.

Captain M---, naturally anxious to scour the seas of these cruel
marauders, who showed no quarter to those who had the misfortune to fall
into their hands, determined to proceed in quest of this vessel, and
after a week's unsuccessful reconnoitre of the various islets which
cover the seas in that quarter, one morning discovered her from the
mast-head, on his weather beam, sailing and rowing down towards the
frigate, to ascertain whether she was a vessel that she