on any of his sable companions,he only tried to rival them in the favourite exercise of hunting. His food and his dress were equally simple; the former only consisted of a slight covering thrown lightly over his shoulders, not made of silk or satin, but of the skin of the leopard, and a sandal made of the thicker skin of another animal. His subsistence was easily obtained from roots and vegetables, such as our salad. Some of these herbs are held sacred to the gods; for even the wild American has some notion of a Deity.

Note.-These little pieces were really run off after tea, with the hope of exciting ingenuity and attention to what is absolutely necessary a parent may always give a few hints to assist the puzzled pupil.

MR. SELBY IN CONTINUATION.

WEARIED with our fatiguing journey, I was delighted when we drew near the bank of a beautiful river, which I immediately proposed crossing on horseback; but this my guide highly disapproved, assuring me the rivers in this island were much infested by alligators, (a smaller species of crocodile, whose attack is invincible;) and, not choosing to run any unnecessary risks, Į submitted to his advice, and we traveled on its banks for some time, rejoicing we had escaped the torments of the woods. Presently we espied a great crowd of people, and had soon reason to congratulate ourselves in not venturing into the water; for, on a nearer approach, we

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found the crowd collected round the carcase of an immense alligator, whose body they were about to open; and, horrible to relate, within it was found the head and arms of a black man, half digested!

"Shocked at this painful discovery, I was about to ride off as fast as I could; but, recollecting I might never again see such an extraordinary creature, I returned to make observations. The alligator was twenty feet in length: its skin was so hard and knotty, a musket-ball had made no impression on it. The people were endeavouring to lift the alligator upon a sort of carriage, (made by fastening two carts together,) which they had hastily formed, for conveying it to Columbo, the chief town in Ceylon; where it would be presented, as a curiosity,

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to the governor, who would have its skin stuffed, and, probably, transported to England. To the cart were harnessed eight strong bullocks; which, with difficulty, moved this enormous creature.

"We rode on in silence,-a silence resulting from reflecting on the various and extraordinary works of creation; and, perhaps, I was the more influenced to thought, by the notion the people of this country entertain of Ceylon being the first residence of Adam, after his dismission from paradise. This notion is merely founded on their own obscure traditions; yet, the multitude of various animals I had seen since my arrival on the island, forcibly recalled to memory the fine description given by our poet Milton, of the beauty, stateliness, and

familiarity of the animals in the garden of Eden.

"About them frisking played

All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all. chase,

In wood or wilderness, forest or den; Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambol'd before them; th' unweildy ele phant,

To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreath'd

His lithe proboscis; close the serpent, sly,
Insinuating, wore with Gordian twine
His braided train, and of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded."

Milton's Verses, 340 and 345.

"We now approached the very lofty mountains, over which extends the Candian dominions. On the highest mountain the king holds his residence it is very difficult of access, and the natural obstacles of such a situation are yet further encreased by the dislike the Candians