to the bazar, I provided myself, from ever seen a figure like it: it was that of a man who had died of starvation, and whose corpse was lying at full length on a dissecting-table in a London hospital! I was startled then; it may easily be imagined I was still more so now, in the dead of night. Before the lightning had quite ceased to flash, I had turned my eyes downwards to look at his person; but before I could fix them, the earth was enveloped once more in its dark gloom, and I felt the hand removed. On looking up, I found that the figure had vanished. Thinking that perhaps the lightning had dazzled my eyes, I made a step forward, and put out my hands, as if to lay them on the figure, but nothing met their touch. I confess that a cold shudder came over me from head to foot, and that, for the first time in my life, I felt afraid of what I justly considered a hidden danger, hanging over me for my presumption in trying to pass the bounds of the finite. The rain, falling again in heavy drops, recalled me to my senses, and I hastened home at once, where I arrived in a shivering, feverish state. Hastily taking off my clothes, II threw myself on my bed, there to reflect on what had passed. The first part of my adventure appeared to me as a dream, until I thought of the words, "You dare not!"-when the reality of the meeting struck me with its full force. How I passed the night I cannot describe; I distinctly remember the clock striking two, three, and four, when exhausted nature at length gave way, and I drowsed off to sleep, and did not awake till late next morning. When I arose, I can say that the events of the past night, instead of being confused, were clear and welldefined. The first thing that struck me forcibly was, that there was now a certainty of my being rewarded for my long toil and labour. The more I thought of it, the more I was convinced of the truth pervading the words of the stranger. A thought of danger being incurred in a night-adventure never crossed my brain until evening came on, when maturer reflection made me think that perhaps it might be as well provide oneself with some means of defence. Proceeding at once VOL. I.-59 It was now If the preceding night was dark, this one was still more so. Numerous were the sudden stops I made, as I found myself suddenly on the brinks of sundry ditches and drops, on my way to the appointed place. At last, after about twenty minutes' walk, I found myself seated on the tombstone near the graveyard, and close to the nulla that runs behind it. Protected from the wind by the graveyard wall, I felt an unearthly silence around me. No sound reached my ears, except that of the waters rushing down the nulla, and of my heart, which seemed to beat with an unusually slow and measured thump. The sound of the gong of the left flank barracks striking the half-hour seemed to pass through and through me, and make my very flesh vibrate. I do not conceal that a dread sense of danger crept over me-I thought of my folly in thus exposing myself to the danger of prying into things unknown as yet to human eyes or ears; and from that I reverted to my peaceful home. This seemed to quiet me, and I clung to the thought with desperation. I saw before me the picture of my family circle; of my father and mother seated before the hearth, with the blaze of the fire reflected on their grey locks; of my gentle sisters seated near the table, engaged in their needlework, and thinking of me in a far-distant land. From this reflection I was aroused by the gong striking twelve. I looked around me at the first stroke, but I saw nobody near; neither did I hear the sound of a single footstep; and I was making up my mind to think that a practical joke had been played upon me, when, at the last stroke, I felt the heavy hand once more upon my right shoulder. I did not feel it come down nor press by any muscular contraction; it appeared to me as if a dead weight had suddenly but insensibly been laid there. I turned round, and there, before me, stood the figure of the preceding night, darker than the darkness itself. me. through my body. Oh! how I repented of my folly, in trying to peer into what was never destined to be revealed to man; but there was no escape now. I felt that I must await the result. What that was, I knew must be fearful; for I heard a moaning noise rising up in all directions. Suddenly, the same stillness as before crept over the place, and I then smelt a damp unearthly smell close to The gong once more struck-one, and the figure's voice, which I recognised, said, "Open your eyes, and inquire!" I did so, and the first thing I saw was the moon, just appearing above the opposite wall of the graveyard. On the grave-stones I saw seated white figures with glazed eyes, looking fixedly at me; and, oh God! shall I ever forget it,-a corpse in a winding-sheet seated close beside me. It's eyes looked straight before it; but whichever way turned, they seemed to see through me! In an unearthly voice, which re-echoed through the open graves, it cried, "Why disturbest thou the dead ?-speak, and all shall be revealed!" out Without giving me time to ask how it came there, it said-" Are you ready?" I replied, "I am"; and, putting my hand into my pocket, I felt for the pistol, in order to be forearmed against any danger. Shall I ever forget the hollow jeering laugh with which Nature could stand no more! Risthis action was greeted? "What! doing from my seat, and flinging you want arms against the dead?" said my arms, I uttered a piercing cry, the figure. Amazed that it should know which I heard repeated by all the that I was armed, for I had not men- silent figures on the tombstones; and tioned this to a single soul, I replied- fell senseless to the ground. "No!" " 'Well, give them to me"; and the same hollow jeering laugh resounded once more. I was totally powerless. Without a word, I gave them up into a hand which, from its shrunken appearance, was a prototype of the face of the figure. For a second or two, the figure vanished, and, on reappearing, seemed to me about three or four yards in front. It said, "Follow me!" At the same time, an ignis fatuus appeared out of the ground ahead, and lighted our steps. I got up, and we proceeded to the graveyard door, which flew open on our approach. Entering the graveyard, I was led down the path till we reached a tombstone on the right hand side, only slightly raised above the level of the earth, and close to the wall. The figure then turned round, and said, "Be seated here; and open not your eyes until the moon shall have risen,-on the penalty of death!" I shut my eyes, and mechanically sat down on the tombstone, the coldness of which made a cold shudder run How long I remained in that state I cannot say, but when I awoke I found myself lying outside my bed, cold and shivering. How I came to be convey ed there is still at this very moment a mystery to me. The pistol and dirk were found next morning by the station clerk on one of the tombstones, which was stained by marks of blood. He was naturally rather alarmed at seeing this, and still more astonished when he found that the arms were mine, and that I could, or rather would, not give a satisfactory account of the way they got there. I believe that he is often heard to say confidentially, "that some body must have put them there, and that that somebody must have been the person who claimed them," &c. &c. He has as yet always eyed me suspiciously; but, when he sees this in black and white, will no doubt think once before he visits the graveyard in the evening, and take care always to give me a wide berth. more than Lines on reading a Poem by Henry Kirke White.* ALREADY fifty summer suns have smiled On the green turf that shrouds thy slumbering clay, Than thine, congenial spirit! O, methinks Of some old haunted ruin, lulls my thoughts * H. K. White died on the 19th October 1806. The Reverend W. Hy, better known under the pseudonym of Martin Doyle, was, as he told me, intimately acquainted with White at St. John's, and "used often to try to drag him from his books." H. introduced him to the lady in Cambridge who wrote some verses on his death, published in that most delightful of biographies-" Southey's Remains of H. K. White." which falls, in an oblique direction THE FALLS OF MUK-TA-GI-RI, from the perpendicular plane of the IN THE DECCAN. "Ever charming, ever new, When will the landscape tire the view? * DYER. WE give, for the perusal of our readers, a description of a noted waterfall in the Deccan, so that if any from Bombay visit this province, they may go and see one of its chief beauties. Our present text is taken from the great school of rude art, in which there is a graceful blending of taste, harmony, beauty, and variety, or as the poet above more ably declares. These falls are situated eight miles to the north-east of the cantonment of Ellichpore, being a pleasant morning's ride; and for sporting characters, the route affords ample amusement, for the plains through which it runs abound with deer and chikaras. On entering the long valley, before the Falls are approached, the sport is chiefly confined to peacocks; perhaps a stray wild goat may be seen climbing the steep sides of the hills; and it is not unlikely, but that a tiger or bear may frequently be found in the thick coverts of the forest. The hamlet of Dapora is situated on the banks of the stream that meanders through the valley above alluded to; from thence, the road is reduced, for nearly two miles, to a small beaten track, wide enough to permit either a horse or elephant to pass. At one or two places, impediments occur, by protruding branches of large trees. The jungle on either side is very thick, and impenetrable to the sight; and the road, from the numerous twists and turns of the stream, being correspondingly tortuous, the traveller is led to fancy that at the end of each one he has arrived at the spot he seeks. But let us suppose the Falls to be reached-and to begin: the stream, that has taken up so much time to reach, is found to overflow from a large basin or pond, about ten feet in diameter, into rock, a furious torrent, much resembling liquid silver, from a height of not. less than 80 feet. One standing on the edge of the basin is covered with spray from the water-fall. The roar here, as at every other fall, is deafening; particularly so in the rainy season, when a person speaking is very indistinctly heard. The fall just described is the last or lowest; and as one stands facing it, we say turn to the left, get over the stream, and commence the ascent of the hill by a flight of steps, built up of hewn stone. Locomotion of this nature is very harassing to those unaccustomed to it, and we have seen ladies of moderate strength fairly give under the attempt, before accomplishing half-way. Though these steps are now considerably out of repair, they bear traces of having been put together with much skill and nicety here and there stands a single arch, after the Gothic style ; and, from general appearances, we may infer that they answered as chowkies, by which intruders might be kept out. The botanist, as he climbs these hills, will find sufficient to engage him in his scientific inquiries. One of our friends remarked having seen a specimen of the wild vine, in appearance and colour resembling the cultivated grape. The steps lead only to the middle of the gorge in the hill, and terminate on a floor of hard masonry, rendered black by the hand of time. Before proceeding further, two large temples, to the left, and built entirely of hewn stone, require notice. In these may be seen a couple of large idols, of pure 'marble, represented in a state of perfect nudity. Leaving these, and descending from the floor by another flight of steps, a number of cells present themselves. The stream, as it runs along, is now visible; the bed very rocky. Continue on, and you come immediately on the third fall, which, falling over a height of only four or five feet, is not the less rapid. The water then enters into a deep and fathomless basin, before overflowing on the opposite side. Here let us digress, and give our readers an account of a scene which, but for timely assistance, would have ended most unhappily. We formed a member of a company that went out on a picnic to these falls during the height of the monsoon, which, en passant, is the season in which to behold Muktagiri in its voluptuous grandeur, the landscape also being more imposing just then, borrowing additional charms from the wild look of the sombre glen below, varying in all the warmest tints of green and grey, and the heavy foliage of the jungle. At intervals the sharp crow of the wild cock, the roaring of the waters, a canopy of surcharged ether above, and the picture is complete. On arriving, a bath was proposed, and the whole company entering into the spirit, unanimously pitched on bathing in the basin of the third fall. A young gentleman, perhaps just able to swim, and never having had his powers taxed in that delightful art, bravely stood on the rim, confronting the treacherous element, when, either from a spirit of mischief or fun, he was sent at a spanking rate slash into the centre. No signs of his rising to the surface appearing, suspense the most acute agitated the feelings of all around-every face was pale with fear; but two out of the party, more courageous than the rest, retaining sufficient presence of mind, boldly plunged in, and dragged the unfortunate out. We may well say dragged; for one had hold of him by the beard, while the other clutched him round the legs. He staggered for a time, then rallied; but never again dared to venture a swim in the basin, which was very nigh conducing to his death. Crossing the stream over the third fall, you enter a number of cells opposite those previously noticed. Passing through these, and getting over a small staircase, to the right are a number of large temples, with subterranean passages to dark vaults below, These we did not explore. To the left, by crossing over a bridge that spans a small tributary to the stream, another set temples may be inspected; in the centre stands the chief one, containing an inscription on the inner side of the doorway in Balbodh characters. In front of the chief temple are a number of cupolas and sheds ; some of the former containing symbols of worship cut in stone, and firmly imbedded in the flooring. These temples are connected with those first described by a causeway of masonry, with some three or four arches for the passage of the stream. Under the centre arch is the second fall, which is too insignificant to dwell on. Directly before the causeway pours the first fall, from a height not less than 150 feet, spreading into an extensive pond about 30 feet in length, and breast-deep. The eye is gratified, and the mind. eagerly occupies itself in contemplating this stupendous stroke of nature. The perpendicular rock seems basaltic; here and there overhangs a hive of bees, and on the summit may be found blue pigeons, and monkeys. It is, indeed, worth the day's toil to go and witness the antics of the latter, while leaping from crag to crag, as if defying the awful yawning chasm. To the left of the first fall is an excavation in the rock, after the fashion of the caves at Elephanta and Karli. It was never completed; for some of the hieroglyphics are imperfect, others finished, and many wanting. Returning by the causeway, and doubling the chief temple, that contains the inscription,-passing through a number of minor temples, you come upon another flight of steps. Ascending these, you are landed on the verge of the first fall, where there is a small temple. Contemplate the landscape now : standing on the summit of the hills, you will find it has two principal characteristics-beauty and wildness, combined and displayed with the nicest degree of magnificence. In the far distance is a bird's-eye view of a part of the Berar valley. Turn your eyes to the sides of the hills, and measure in a glance, if you can, its precipitous depth. The stereoscopic pictures to be had in Bombay will convey a more striking representation than our description, but even a photograph cannot bear full witness to the splendour of the reality. Hereafter will be given an interesting legend connected with Muktagiri. In conclusion, we have only to remark that the several temples appear to have been in use for the performance of par |