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leopard's tails dangling before and behind; a few beads round his neck complete his toilet. Captain Harris presented the king with a duffel great coat, a coil of brass wire, a mirror, two pounds of "Irish blackguard" snuff, and fifty pounds weight of blood-red beads. Hitherto the king had considered it beneath his dignity to evince the slightest symptom of astonishment. His manner had been particularly guarded and sedate, nor had it been possible to read in his countenance aught that was passing in his bosom; but the sight of so many fine things at once threw his decorum off the balance, and caused him for the moment to forget what he owed to himself in the presence of so large an assembly. Putting his thumb between his teeth and opening his eyes to their utmost limits, he grinned like a school-boy at the sight of gingerbread, and exclaimed repeatedly, Monante, monante, monante: tanta, tanta, tanta!' (Good, good, good: bravo, bravo, bravo.)

"He now rose abruptly, big with some great conception, and made signs to the parsee to approach and assist him on

with the coat, habited in which, he strutted several times

up

and down, viewing his grotesque figure in the glass with evident self-applause. He then desired Mohanycour to put it on and turn about, that he might see if it fitted behind: and this knotty point settled to his unqualified satisfaction, he suddenly cast off his leopard's tails, and commanded all hands to assist in the difficult task of shaking him into tartan trowsers. It was indeed no easy work to perform; but once accomplished, his majesty cut a noble figure. The parsee wore a pair of red silk braces which he presently demanded, observing that they would supply the place of those which Mrs. Moffatt had forgotten to send. Shortly after this he directed an attendant who was crouching at his feet, to take everything to his kraal, and resuming his solemnity, and his seat, tea was brought in."

Thus far Captain Harris; and yet this man, at whose simplicity and ignorance our very children might laugh, has authority greater than that of any European despot. He alone in his kingdom is rich; his subjects are all equally

poor; the whole wealth of the state centres in him; he has the

power of life and death; and all that his people have to do is to submit to his decrees.

It is well for a sovereign, and well also for the subjects, when by a nation's advancement in civilization, its rulers need no longer to be exposed to the temptations and responsibilities of unlimited power—when the well-being of society depends less upon the character and energy of an individual ruler, than upon the general advancement of his people in virtue and knowledge.

TIGER HUNTING.

IN Upper India (to the jungles of which district it is principally confined) the tiger is regarded with terror and hatred. It is beautiful in appearance, but so ferocious in disposition, that its death is the death of a general foe. It carries off not only their cattle, but, lurking in the long grass through which paths are cut to the villages, it pounces upon the people themselves, and carries them away as a cat would carry off a mouse. When brought to bay by the huntsman, it fights with the most savage fury, and not unfrequently leaves fatal proofs of its strength and ferocity. Shakspeare frequently makes use of the tiger, as typical of courage and wild resolution.

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