Here are to be seen diseased cattle, blind cats, lame monkeys, in fact, all manner of helpless beasts and birds.

There are but three of these hospitals in the whole country, and of these we read, "They are not hospitals in the true sense, but simply refuges for halt, maimed, diseased, and blind creatures for whom nobody cares. Reverence for life, among the Hindus, does not include the performance of acts of mercy. It is enough to save the animal from immediate death, and to place food within its reach."

A good Jain never sits down till he has swept the place, lest he crush some tiny animal. He strains all the water he drinks, and wears a cloth over his mouth to prevent the destruction of any animal life.

The story is told of a Jain priest who looked through a microscope and offered his whole fortune for it. The owner made him a present of it, whereupon the priest immediately crushed it to atoms to prevent any of his friends being made as wretched as he had been by seeing the minute forms of animal life that must be destroyed in water and food. These are but a few of the strange religious customs to be found in India.

It is a land of idols. The more ignorant people still bow with reverence before these hideous idols, and offer many sacrifices to gain the favor of their gods.

The influence of Christianity and the spread of education among these peoples are gradually breaking down their trust in idols, and building up their faith in God.

As the Hindu temples and the Mohammedan mosques are more interesting in other cities we shall visit, we will not delay to view those in Bombay.

Across the harbor are the famous rock caves of Elephanta, which every visitor to Bombay will wish to explore. Elephanta is a small island, only six miles distant from Bombay, and was so named from the huge stone figure of an elephant which once stood on its shore. Not far from the boat landing we come to the

caves which were cut into the face of the solid rock centuries ago. We are surprised at the greatness of the works undertaken and completed by those early peoples. These caves were hollowed out for temples, and they yet contain many huge rock sculptures of the Hindu gods. The largest one of these caves is nearly one hundred and fifty feet square; and the

roof is sustained by huge pillars of rock, beautifully carved.

The massive figures of the gods, from twelve to twenty feet high, are ranged around the walls.

Underground temples are to be seen in several other places in India. Those at Ellora are the most noted. There, a solid mass of rock has been sculptured into the form of a great temple; large rooms have been hollowed out with patient care, and the whole is adorned with elaborate carving. It is like a magnificent cathedral carved out of one block of stone.

As we stand before these vast rock temples, we are amazed at the ingenuity and the patience of the builders, who did their work long years before our land had been discovered.

CHAPTER IV.

TRAVELING IN INDIA.

It is not many years since the Hindus looked with awe and wonder upon the locomotive, and thought it some evil spirit which the white man had tamed. They crowded about, eager to worship it; brought garlands of flowers to hang upon it; and begged to be allowed to smear it with red paint, as they do their gods.

Now, railroads and telegraph lines stretch across the country from east to west, and from north to south. It will not be many years before there will be a continuous line from Calais, in France, to Calcutta, and

the Viceroy of India will then receive his mail in eight days from London.

The Hindus have not been slow to recognize the advantages of railroads, and their desire to travel from one part of the country to another in so easy and rapid a manner has been a help toward breaking down the evils of the caste system. Among the many curious customs in India, we shall be interested in several to be seen in railway travel. The cars are similar to those common in European countries, having doors along the sides and being divided into sections. Some roads have separate cars for men and for women. One day an Englishman and his wife, who had been in India only a short time, entered a first class compartment and took their seats. In a few moments the guard, or conductor, appeared at the door and told the lady there was a seat for her in another carriage. She and her husband were much surprised, but they were obliged to comply with the rules of the road.

Wherever one travels in India, it is necessary to take at least one servant along to attend to all wants. Also if invited out to dine you must take your own servant to wait on you at the table.

It is customary for every traveler to carry a mattress and some bedding, as he finds, in the hotels and dâk bungalows where he is to stay, that only a bedstead is provided. The dâk bungalows, or wayside inns, were built by the English government for the accommodation of travelers by the post roads.

Before the English built the great railroads across India, the common modes of travel were by bullock

carts, on the backs of camels and elephants, by dâk carriages, and in palanquins. These have by no means disappeared, though they are passing away.

The bullock cart has been used from earliest times. It is a large covered wagon, mounted on heavy wheels, and is drawn by a pair of bullocks. It is not an easy

vehicle, and you would not care to ride far in it over rough roads. The creaking of the wooden wheels, which are never greased, is one of the characteristic sounds to be heard everywhere in India. The Indian bullock has a large, fleshy hump between the shoulders. In many parts of the country it is used in place of the horse, and is the common beast of burden in numer