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 along the tree-bordered street on which his home was located, he almost laughed aloud as he thought of how amazed some of his friends would be when they met him. They would think him a ghost or a walking corpse, would perhaps shrink in terror from him at first.

But that thought brought another: he must not walk in on Helen too abruptly. The husband she had buried ten days ago must not appear too suddenly or the shock might easily kill her. He must contrive somehow to soften the shock of his appearance, must make sure that he did not startle her too much.

With this resolve in mind, when he reached his big house set well back from the street, Woodford turned aside through the grounds instead of approaching the front entrance. He saw windows lighted in the library of the house and he went toward them. He would see who was there, would try to break the news of his return gently to Helen.

He silently climbed onto the terrace outside the library windows and approached the tall easements. He peered in.

Through the silken curtains inside he could clearly see the room’s soft-lit interior, cozy with the shelves of his books and with the lamps and fireplace.

Helen, his wife, sat on a sofa with her back partly toward the window. Beside her sat a man that Woodford recognized as one of their closest friends, Curtis Dawes.

Sight of Dawes gave Woodford an idea. He would get Dawes outside in some way and have him break the news of his return to Helen. His heart was pounding at sight of his wife.

Then Curtis Dawes spoke, his words dimly audible to Woodford outside the window. "Happy, Helen?" he was asking.

“So happy, dear," she answered, turning toward him.

Out in the darkness Woodford stared in perplexed wonder. How could she be happy when she thought her husband dead and buried?

He heard Curtis Dawes speaking again. "It was a long time," the man was saying. "Those years that I waited, Helen."

She laid her hand tenderly on his. "I know, and you never said a word. I respected so your loyalty to John."

She looked into the fire musingly. "John was a good husband, Curt. He really loved me and I never let him guess that I didn’t love him, that it was you, his friend, I loved. But when he died I couldn’t feel grief. I felt regret for his sake, of course, but underneath it was the consciousness that at last you and I were free to love each other.”

Dawes’ arm went tenderly around her shoulder. “Darling, you don’t regret that I talked you into marrying me right away? You don’t care that people may be talking about us?"

“I don’t care for anything but you," she told him. "John was dead, young Jack has his own home and wife, and there was no reason in the world why we should not marry. I’m glad that we did."

In the darkness outside the window a stunned, dazed John Woodford saw her lift an illumined face toward the man’s.

“I’m proud to be your wife at last, dear, no matter what anyone may say about us," he heard.

Woodford drew slowly back from the window. He paused in the darkness under the trees, his mind shaken, torn.

So this was his homecoming from the tomb? This was the joy he had anticipated in Helen when he returned?

It couldn’t be the truth! His ears had deceived him—Helen could not be the wife of Curtis Dawes! Yet part of his


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 mind told him remorselessly that it was true.

He had always sensed that Helen’s feeling for him was not as strong as his for her. But that she had loved Dawes he had never dreamed. Yet now he remembered Dawes’ frequent visits, the odd silences between him and Helen. He remembered a thousand trifles that spoke of the love which these two had cherished for each other.

What was he, John Woodford, to do? Walk in upon them and tell them that they had been premature in counting him dead, that he had come back to claim his position in life and his wife again?

He couldn’t do it! If Helen during those years had wavered in the least in her loyalty to him, he would have had less compunction. But in the face of those years of silent, uncomplaining life with him, he couldn’t now reappear to her and blast her new-found happiness and blacken her name.

Woodford laughed a little, bitterly. He was then to be an Enoch Arden from the tomb. A strange role, surely, yet it was the only one open to him.

What was he to do? He couldn’t let Helen know now that he was alive, couldn’t return to the home that had been his. Yet he must go somewhere. Where?

With a sudden leap of the heart he thought of lack, his son. He could at least go to Jack, let his son know that he was living. Jack at least would be overjoyed to see him, and would keep the fact of his return secret from his mother.

John Woodford, with that thought rekindling a little his numbed feelings, started back through the trees toward the street. Where he had approached the house but minutes before with eager steps, he stole away now like a thief fearful of being observed.

He reached the street and started across the blocks toward the cottage of his son. Few were abroad, for the cold seemed increasing and it was well past midnight. Woodford mechanically rubbed his stiffened hands as he hurried along.

He came to his son’s neat little white cottage, and felt relief as he saw lights from its lower windows also. He had feared that no one would be up. He crossed the frozen lawn to the lighted windows, intent on seeing if Jack were there and if he were alone.

He peered in, as he had done at his own home. Jack was sitting at a little desk and his young wife was perched on the arm of his chair and was listening as he explained something to her from a sheet of writing on the desk.

John Woodford, pressing his face against the cold window-pane, could hear Jack’s words.

“You see, Dorothy, we can just make it by adding our savings to Dad’s insurance money," lack was saying.

“Oh, Jack!" cried Dorothy happily. "And it’s what you’ve wanted so long, a little business of your own!"

Jack nodded. "It won’t be very big to start with, but I’ll make it grow, all right. This is the chance I’ve been hoping for and I’m sure going to make the most of it.

“Of course," he said, his face sobering a little, "it’s too bad about Dad going like that. But seeing that he did die, the insurance money solves our problems of getting started. Now you take the over-head—" he said, and began unreeling a string of figures to the intent Dorothy.

John Woodford drew slowly back from the window. He felt more dazed and bewildered than ever. He had forgotten the insurance he had carried, which he had intended to give Jack his start. But of course, he saw now, it had

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 been paid over when he was believed dead.

He was not dead, but living. Yet if he let Jack know that, it meant the end of his son’s long-desired opportunity. Jack would have to return the insurance money to the company, wrecking his dreamed-of chance. How could he let him know, then?

He, John Woodford, had already decided that he must remain dead to his wife and therefore to the world. He might as well remain so to his son, also. It was for the best. John Woodford melted away from the cottage into the darkness.

When he reached the street he stood in indecision. A freezing wind had begun to blow, and he felt very cold without an overcoat. Mechanically he turned his coat-collar closer around his neck.

He tried to think what he must do. Neither Helen nor Jack must know that he was living, and that meant that no one in the city must know. He must get out of the town to some other place, take up life under some other name.

But he would need help, money, to do that. Where was he to get them? Barred as he was from calling on his wife or son, to whom could he tum for help without letting his return become generally known?

Howard Norse! The name came at once to Woodford's lips. Norse had been his employer, head of the firm where Woodford had held a position for many years. Woodford had been one of his oldest employees. Howard Norse would help him to get a position somewhere else, and would keep his reappearance secret.

He knew where Norse’s residence was, several miles out in the country. But he couldn’t walk that far, and he had no taxi or trolley fare. He would have to telephone Norse.

Woodford walked back toward the city’s central section, head bent against the piercing cold wind. He succeeded in finding an all-night lunchroom whose proprietor allowed him to use the telephone. With cold-stiffened lingers he dialed Norse’s number.

Howard Norse’s sleepy voice soon came over the wire. “Mr. Norse, this is Woodford—John Woodford," he said quickly.

There was an incredulous exclamation from Howard Norse. "You’re crazy! John Woodford’s been dead and buried for a couple of weeks!"

"No, I tell you it’s John Woodford!" insisted Woodford. "I’m not dead at all, I’m as living as you are! If you’ll come into town for me you’ll see for yourself."

"I’m not likely to drive to town at two in the morning to look at a maniac," Norse replied acidly. "Whatever your game is, you’re wasting your time on me."

"But you’ve got to help me!" Woodford cried. “I’ve got to have money, a chance to get out of the city without anyone knowing. I gave your firm my services for years and now you’ve got to give me help!"

"Listen to me, whoever you are," snapped Norse over the wire. "I was bothered long enough with John Woodford when he was living—he was so inefficient we’d have kicked him out long ago if we hadn’t been sorry for him. But now that he’s dead, you needn’t think you can bother me in his name. Good-night!"

The receiver clicked in Woodford’s unbelieving ear.

He stared at the instrument. So that was what they had really thought of him


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 male and female domestics approached, accompanied by her father.

"What is the matter, my love? (cried he), I have been called from my bed by the sound of passing steps."

"Listen!" exclaimed Madeline, with a countenance of horror, and glancing at the chamber.

The yell became, if possible, more savage; and the domestics began to cross themselves. Madeline looked at her father, with an intention of asking his opinion of the noise; but was prevented by observing the disorder and death-like paleness of his countenance.

"How long (demanded he) is it since this chamber was opened?"

"Two months at least, my Lord, (replied the housekeeper), and then it was only opened for a few hours, of a fine sunny day, merely to air it."

"Where is the key?" asked he.


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 at the firm--there where he had always thought himself one of the most highly valued of employees!

But there must be someone upon whom he could call for help; someone he could convince that John Woodford was still living; someone who would be glad to think that he might be living.

What about Willis Grann? Grann had been his closest friend next to Curtis Dawes. He had lent money more than once to Woodford in the past, and certainly should be willing to do so now.

Hastily Woodford called Grann’s number. This time he was more careful in his approach, when he heard the other’s voice.

"Willis, I’ve got something to tell you that may sound incredible, but you’ve got to believe, do you hear?" he said.

"Who is this and what in the world are you talking about?" demanded Grann’s startled voice.

"Willis, this is John Woodford. Do you hear, John Woodford! Everyone thinks I’m dead but I’m not, and I’ve got to see you."

“What?" cried the other’s voice over the telephone. “Why, you must be drunk. I saw Woodford lying in his coffin myself, so I know he’s dead."

"I tell you, it’s not so, I’m not dead!" Woodford almost screamed. "I’ve got to get some money, though, to get away from here and you must lend it to me! You always lent it to me before, and I need it now worse than ever I did. I’ve got to get away!"

"So that’s it!" said Willis Grann. "Because I used to help Woodford out you think you can get money from me by just calling me up and pretending that you’re he. Why, Woodford himself was the biggest pest in the world with his constant borrowings. I felt almost relieved when he died. And now you try to make me believe that he’s come back from the dead to pester me again!"

“But he never died—I’m John Woodford really—" Woodford protested vainly.

“Sorry, old top," returned Grann’s mocking voice. "Next time pick a living person to impersonate, not a dead one."

He hung up. John Woodford slowly replaced the receiver and made his way out to the street.

The wind was blowing harder and now was bringing with it clouds of fine snow that stung against his face like sand. He shivered as he stumbled along the streets of dark shops, his body freezing as his mind was frozen.

There was no one from whom he could get help, he saw. His paramount necessity was still to get out of the city, and to do that he must rely on himself.

The icy blasts of the snow-laden wind penetrated through his thin coat. His hands were shaking with the cold.

A sign caught Woodford’s eye, the illuminated beacon of a relief lodging-house. At once he made his way toward it. He could at least sleep there tonight, get started from the city in the morning.

The shabby men dozing inside in chairs looked queerly at him as he entered. So did the young clerk to whom he made his way.

“I’d—I’d like to stay here tonight," he said to the clerk.

The clerk stared. "Are you trying to kid me?"

Woodford shook his head. "No, I’m penniless and it’s cold outside. I’ve got to stay somewhere."

The clerk smiled disdainfully. "Listen, fellow, no one with duds like yours is that hard up. Scram before I call a cop.”

Woodford looked down at his clothes, his frock coat and stiff white shirt and


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 gleaming patent-leather shoes, and understood.

He said desperately to the clerk, "But these clothes don’t mean anything. I tell you, I haven’t a penny!"

"Will you beat it before I have you thrown out of here?" the clerk demanded.

Woodford backed toward the door. He went outside again into the cold. The wind had increased and more snow was falling. The front of Woodford’s coat was soon covered with it as he pushed along.

It came to him as a queer joke that the splendor of his funeral clothes should keep him from getting help now. He couldn’t even beg a passer-by for a dime. Who would give to a panhandler in formal clothes?

Woodford felt his body quivering and his teeth chattering from sheer cold. If he could only get out of the blast of the icy wind! His eyes sought desperately along the street for a hallway where he might shelter himself.

He found a deep doorway and crouched down inside it, out of the wind and driving snow. But hardly had he done so when a heavy step paused in front of him and a nightstick rapped his feet smartly. An authoritative voice ordered him to get up and go home.

Woodford did not try to explain to the policeman that he was not a drunken citizen fallen by the way. He got wearily to his feet and moved on along the street, unable to see more than a few feet ahead for the whirl of snow.

The snow on which he was walking penetrated the thin shoes he wore, and his feet were soon even colder than the rest of his body. He walked with slow, dragging steps, head bent against the storm of white.

He was dully aware that the dark shops beside him had given way to a low stone wall. With a sudden start he recognized it as the wall of the cemetery which he had left but hours before, the cemetery containing the vault from which he had escaped.

The vault! Why hadn't he thought of it before? he asked himself. The vault would be a shelter from the freezing wind and snow. He could stay there for the night without anyone objecting.

He paused, feeling for a moment a little renewal of his former terrors. Did he dare go back into that place from which he had struggled to escape? Then an extra—strong blast of icy air struck him and decided him—the vault would be shelter and that was what his frozen body craved more than anything else.

Stiffly he climbed over the low stone wall and made his way through the cemetery’s whitened monuments and vaults toward the one from which he had escaped. The driving snow covered his tracks almost as he made them, as he trudged toward the vault.

He reached it and tried its iron doors anxiously. Suppose he had locked them when he left! But to his relief they swung open, and he entered and shut them. It was dark inside, but he was out of the wind and snow now and his numbed body felt a little relief.

Woodford sat down in the corner of the vault. It was a shelter for the night, at least. It seemed rather ironic that he had had to come back here for shelter, but it was something to be thankful for that he had even this. In the morning, when the storm was over, he could leave without anyone seeing and get out of the city.

He sat listening to the wind and snow shriek outside. The stone floor of the vault was very cold, so cold that he felt his limbs stiffening and cramping, and finally he stood up unsteadily and paced


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228 to and fro in the vault, chaffing his arms and hands.

If he had only a blanket, or even a heavy coat, to lie upon! He’d freeze there upon the stone floor. Then as he turned in his pacing he bumped into the coffin on the shelf and a new idea was born in his mind.

The coffin! Why, the interior of it was lined deep with silk and satin padding. It would be warm in the coffin. He could sleep in it far better than on the cold stone floor. But did he dare to re-enter it?

Again Woodford felt faintly the former terrors he had experienced when he had awakened in it. But they meant nothing, he told himself. He would not be fastened in, this time, and his frozen flesh yearned for the warmth of the coffin’s lining.

Slowly, carefully, he climbed up and lowered himself into the coffin and stretched out. The silk and padding he sank into had a grateful warmth. He lowered his head upon the soft little pillow with a sigh of relief. This was better.

He experienced an almost luxurious comfort now; but after he had lain for a little while he felt that the top of his body was still cold, where the cold air came into the open coffin’s top. That cold air entering kept him from being completely warm. If the lid above him were just closed to keep out the cold air——

He reached up and got the edge of the heavy metal lid, then let it down upon himself. He was completely in the dark, now, inside the closed coffin. But he was warm, too, for the lid kept out the cold air. And he was getting warmer all the time, as his body warmed up the interior.

Yes, it was far more comfortable with the lid closed. An even, warmth now pervaded his whole being, and the air inside the coffin was still getting warmer and thicker. He felt a little drowsy now, as he breathed that warm air, felt luxuriously sleepy as he lay on the soft silk.

It was getting a little harder to breathe, somehow, as the air became thicker. He ought really to raise the coffin lid and let in some fresh air. But it was so warm now, and the air outside was so cold, and he was more and more sleepy.

Something dim and receding in his fading consciousness told him that he was on the way to suffocation. But what if he was? was his sleepy thought. He was better off in here than back in the world outside. He had been a fool ever to fight so hard before to get out of his warm, comfortable coffin, to get back to that outside world.

No, it was better like this, the darkness and the warmth and the sleep that advanced. Nobody would ever know that he had awakened at all, that he had been away from here at all. Everything would be just as before—just as before. And with that comforting assurance, John Woodford was swept farther and farther down the dark stream of unconsciousness from which this time there would be no returning.


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 "It hangs beside the door, my Lord;" answered Mrs. Beatrice.

"I will examine it then," cried he.

"Examine it! (repeated the housekeeper) Jesu Maria!—Why, surely my Lord, you could not think of such a thing; surely, surely you, of all men in the world, could not have courage to enter it?"

St. Julian started, and turned quick upon her; and a frown, such as Madeline had never before seen upon it, darkened his brow—his eyes, his piercing eyes, were fastened on her, as if wishing to discover the innermost recesses of her soul, and in an agitated voice he demanded what she meant.

"Meant, my Lord? (said the affrighted Beatrice) meant—why, nothing—nothing that could give your Lordship offence."

St. Julian looked doubtfully at her; then turning, he took down the key, and unlocked the chamber; the moment he opened the


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E cannot understand the Indians of New York if we judge them only by what is seen to-day of Indian life in the Far West, among tribes who roam the mountains and plains, and who have emerged so little from the nomad state; or if we judge the Iroquois by their descendants now living on reservations. Not alone has their territorial dominion passed away, but their genius also—at least, in its manifestations. They have remained silent witnesses of the progress of civilized life on American soil—stolid, unimpassioned, proud. Before the white man came was their time of splendor; after that began their decadence.

The Iroquois, in their best days, were the noblest and most interesting of all Indians who have lived on this continent north of Mexico. They were truly the men whom a name they bore described, a word signifying men who surpassed all others. They alone founded political institutions and gained political supremacy. With European civilization unknown to them, they had given birth to selfgovernment in America. They founded independence; effected a union of States; carried their arms far beyond their own borders; made their conquests permanent; conquered peoples becoming tributary

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HE Indian population on the upper Susquehanna was centred in small villages. It was never large. Parkman, in reference to the whole continent, has remarked that the Indians everywhere were few and scattered Even in parts thought to be well peopled, " one might sometimes journey for days together through the twilight forest and meet no human form/' Around the Susquehanna villages small clearings had usually been made. Apple-orchards had been planted and there were frequent corn-fields; but otherwise the virgin territory bore few indications that men were dwelling upon it.

The foot of Otsego Lake was a favorite resort. In that fact Cooper found the origin of the word Otsego, the particular place where meetings were held being Council Rock. A meaning cited by Campbell * is " clear, deep water," but other writers, like Morgan, pass the word by without defining it. Dr. Beauchamp gives the forms Otesaga and Osten
 * Annals of Tryon County. The author of this work, William W. Campbell, was born in Cherry Valley in 1806, and died in 188 1. He was graduated from Union College, read law with Judge Kent, and practised in New York, where, in 1849, he was appointed a Justice of the Superior Court. From 1857 until 1865 he was a Judge of the State Supreme Court for the Sixth District. He also served a term in Congress. His Annals were published in 1831, and a revised edition with a new title, Border Warfare, in 1849. A third edition came out

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 never o thoroughly pierces the human Breat, as when it proceeds from thoe in whoe Behalf we have been guilty of Trangreions. Reflections on great and good Actions, however they are received or returned by thoe in whoe Favour they are performed, always adminiter ome Comfort to us; but what Conolation hall we receive under o biting a Calamity as the ungrateful Behaviour of our Friend, when our wounded Concience at the fame Time flies in our Face, and upbraids us with having potted it in the Service of one o worthles?

Mr. Allworthy himelf poke to the Captain in his Brother’s Behalf, and deired to know what Offence the Doctor had committed; when the hard-hearted Villain had the Bafenes to ay, that he hould never forgive him for the Injury which he had endeavoured to do him in his Favour; which, he aid, he had pumped out of him, and was uch a Cruelty, that it ought not to be forgiven.

Allworthy poke in very high Terms upon this Declaration, which, he aid, became not a human Creature. He expreed, indeed, o much Reentment againt an unforgiving Temper, that the Captain at lat


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HE Susquehanna Valley had been visited by Europeans several years before the Pilgrim Fathers made their landing at Plymouth. When Captain Christiaensen, the sturdy Dutch navigator, in 1614, selected Albany as the site of a trading post and erected near there a fort, he acted on knowledge already acquired concerning its relation to those routes into the Indian country which converged near the confluence of the Mohawk and the Hudson. In that year or the next, two men, of whom one was named Kleynties, set out from Fort Orange (Albany) to explore the fur country, and crossing from the Mohawk to Otsego Lake, proceeded down the Susquehanna into Pennsylvania. On the information these men secured was in part based that interesting piece of Dutch cartography called the Figurative Map, which shows not only the Connecticut, Hudson, and Mohawk rivers, but another stream, the home of" Sennecas " and " Minquas " (Mohawks).

The course of this stream, as shown on the map, does not conform to any stream we know, but there was only one river inhabited by Senecas and Mohawks beyond the river Mohawk. This was the Susquehanna and its branches. About forty years later (in 1659) another map, that of Visscher, pub-

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 door, the women retreated from it, and shame alone, it was visible, prevented the men from following their example:—attended by them and Madeline he entered it, and the noise directly ceased.

The room, like Madeline's, was hung with tapestry; this was now raised, and the walls minutely examined, but no opening could be discovered, nor any means of entrance but by the door in the gallery.

"Were you ever before disturbed by any noise in this chamber?" asked St. Julian.

"No, (the servants replied) never before the present night."

Tis strange!" cried he, after pausing for a minute.

They then quitted the chamber, which he relocked.

"I shall keep the key myself, (said he, as he turned from it) it must undergo ano-


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 ther examination; though destruction, certain destruction should overwhelm me for doing so, I will try to develop the mystery."

He now took the hand of Madeline, and led her to her room; he tried to tranquillize her, but the trembling of his frame, and disorder of his looks, mocked the efforts he made to do so.

"You look alarmed, my love?" cried he.

Madeline sighed, and might have said,

"And trust me, in mine eye, so do you."

"You have no reason for terror, (said he with a deep sigh), your conduct has made no enemies either in this world or the next."

"I trust not; (cried Madeline), but conscious innocence is not always able to guard the heart against the attacks of fear; and I own I am shocked beyond expression by the noise I have heard."

"I fear you are superstitious," exclaimed her father.


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 the caladium leaves imparting a very fine flavour to the fish.

They will rise to a fly or beetle, and some flowers, particularly a large Hibiscus. Anyone intending to keep these fish in stock ponds is advised to keep the pond free from pollution and to feed the fish regularly. It is only in this way that rapid growth and good flavour can be obtained.

They attain a length of two feet, a weight of at least 20 pounds and in shape resemble the turbot.

The Pěpuyu or Bětok (Anabas scandens) has a world wide reputation as the Climbing Perch. Gunther tells us that in 1797 Daldorf in a memoir communicated to the Linnean Society of London mentions that he had himself taken, in 1791, an Anabas in the act of ascending a palm tree (Palmyra) which grew near a pond. The fish had reached the height of 5 feet and was going still higher. He goes on to say that the fish is named in the Malayan language the "Tree Climber," which is a mistake. He should, I think, have said the Malayalam language. See Day (Fishes of India) Undi colli.

Meek writes,

"Anabas has been frequently obtained on the ground and a specimen now in the collection of Armstrong College, obtained from near Bangkok was found crossing the road 50 yards from the nearest water. It is named the climbing perch from the habit it has of climbing up the rough bark of trees by movements of the spine-clad opercula.

"The method of progression out of the water and the climbing of palms and palmyra trees, especially after heavy rains, have been repeatedly observed."

The Negri Sembilan Malays have a saying, often quoted, which hits off the high estimation in which this little fish is held by inland dwellers: Jikalau sudah minum ayer gopong bertali ijok, sudah makan pepuyu, payah nak tinggalkan negri ini: which may be roughly translated: When a visitor has drunk the water and eaten the fish of this country, he is loath to leave it.

The Ikan Pělaga or Bělaga (Betta spp.) probably derives its name from Siam where it is known as Pla Kat (Pla, fish; Kat, a fighter).

It is common throughout the Peninsula and may be caught in most of the ponds and ditches in Singapore.

Cantor relates that the Siamese are infatuated with the combats of these fish, staking on the issue considerable sums, and sometimes their own persons and families.

The licence to fight these fish used to be farmed in Siam and brought in a considerable revenue to the King.


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FTER the first explorers, seeking to extend the fur trade, came the Jesuits, interested in promoting the spiritual welfare of the savages. The traders came from Fort Orange and New Amsterdam, the missionaries from the ancient St. Lawrence settlements of New France. Before 1650 these devoted men from the great northern valley had arrived on territory now a part of New York State, bringing with them stout and enterprising souls. Morgan declares that the zeal and devotion which they displayed are " unsurpassed in the history of Christianity." They " traversed the forests of America alone and unprotected; they dwelt in the depths of the wilderness without shelter and almost without raiment; they passed the ordeal of Indian captivity and the fire of the torture; they suffered from hunger and violence, but in the midst of all they never forgot the mission with which they were intrusted."

Several of these men acquired distinction that has made their labors a part of American history. Among them were Isaac Jogues, Bruyar, Le Jeune, Brebeuf and Gamier. Later came Peter Milet, who had marked success with the Oneidas, among whom he passed many years, securing a firm hold on their devotion. While it is not unlikely that Jogues saw

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 "Could you wonder if I was? (cried she); What we cannot account for, we can scarcely help ascribing to supernatural causes."

"Am I to infer, (said St. Julian, regarding her with earnestness) from what you say, that it is your opinion the groans proceeded from the spirit of the murdered Philippe?"

"With the Supreme nothing is impossible, (said Madeline), and I have been told that the spirits of the injured are sometimes permitted to revisit this world, for the purpose of obtaining retribution; and if 'tis true what the housekeeper once hinted to me,"

St. Julian started,—"What did she hint?" asked he with eagerness.

Madeline paused for a minute; then with a faltering voice, and timidly raising her eyes to her father's face,

"She told me (said she) that Lord Philippe fell not by the hands of banditti, but—"

"By whom?" demanded St. Julian, in almost convulsive agitation.


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18

roots penetrate to double the depth of ordinary ploughing; we raise up the turnip on drills to help it, and we expect the pulse and grass crop to perforate and deepen the soil to help us. But there is not a cultivated plant which does not naturally send down its roots beyond 9 inches. The cereals on which our agriculture mainly depends are, indeed, endowed with the power of forcing their roots deep and far into the solid earth in search of food, and as the investigation of drainage obstructions has lately shown, it is impossible by any process short of actual tracing, to fix the distance to which the roots of trees and hedge plants will penetrate; so is it found that wheat and our other cultivated grasses extend their roots much further into the soil than is at all generally supposed; Johnston, in his drainage lecture, says that deep-rooted plants, such as lucerne, often fail, even in moderately deep soils, because an excess of water, or the presence of some noxious ingredient which deep drains would remove, prevents their natural descent in search of food. "Even plants," he adds, "which, like wheat or clover, do not usually send down their roots so far, will yet, where the subsoil is sound and dry, extend their fibres for three or more feet in depth, in quest of more abundant nourishment." But, I repeat, it is not thoroughly understood how deeply the roots even of wheat and clover descend. The Earl of Macclesfield, in a letter to the Society of Arts, mentions that a few years ago, Mr. Badcock, a shrewd, sensible, observing, and very considerable farmer, at Pyrton, Oxon, having occasion to dig the foundation of a building on a field under wheat, was much surprised by observing the small fibres of the roots of the wheat much deeper in the earth than he had any idea of. Endeavouring to trace how deep they really went, he had the ground opened close to some plants, dug perpendicularly down to the depth of 6 feet, and having fixed a narrow board close against it, proceeded in the same manner on another side of the plant, and so on till he had secured the earth to that depth between four boards firmly lashed together. He then had it placed upon an inclined plane, and carefully removing the boards, with great caution and perseverance washed away all the earth adhering to the root and its very small fibres, and was much surprised at their extent. He repeated the trials on several other wheat plants, and traced their depth to within 5 or 6 feet. The late Mr. Fane, M.P. for Oxfordshire, had one of these plants, now presented by Lord Macclesfield to the Society of Arts, secured in a close glass tube. My friend Dr. Atkin and myself have traced the roots of wheat in Berwickshire, to 5 or 6 feet of perpendicular depth in garden soil.—Wallace Fyfe, Lecture at Royal Agricultural College.

.—The French Minister of Agriculture and Commerce has ordered over a quantity of China-grass seed (Bœhmeria nivea) from its native country, in order to distribute it to all agriculturists who may apply for it. If unsuccessful in the efforts to acclimatise it in France, it will probably succeed in Algeria. It may not be generally known that this plant (which is a large nettle) yields a beautifully soft, strong, and glossy fibre, applicable for the manufacture of linen fabrics.

.—Dr. Marchand, in a recent contribution to botanical science on vegetable monstrosities, gives a curious account of abnormal forms in the common pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), which is thus summarized by M. J. B. in the Gardener's Chronicle:—

"We will take that instance first in which the parts of the flower departed least from the more normal condition, and then the others in their proper order. In all the parts there was a greater or less tendency to assume a green tint; in some they were entirely green, in others the brighter colours were confined to the more recently developed parts.

"1. In the first case, then, the sepals and petals were in their normal position, though rather more dilated than usual; the anthers were fertile, the principal change existing in the ovary, the upper part of which was wanting, so that the ovules were exposed seated on the central placenta.

"2. In the next step the calyx, more developed than usual, was separated from the corolla by a long peduncle; and the ovary, which was ovate, contained instead of a placenta a sort of plumule or young shoot.

"3. In this case the corolla and calyx were distant from each other; there was no trace of stamens, but the axis was continued from the centre of the corolla, and ended in a leaf-bud.

"4. The calyx and corolla nearly as before, but instead of stamens a whorl of little leaves was developed, in the centre of which the axis was continued, bearing at its tip two whorls of leaflets alternately three and three.

"5. In this case two out of the five stamens were normal, the other three changed into leaves, showing clearly the origin of the leaflets in the last case, which took the place of the stamens.

"6. The ovary varied in different flowers. In some the placenta was crowned with ovules; in others the ovules were replaced by a single whorl of leaflets; in others there was every shade of change from ordinary ovules to perfect leaflets; while in others, again, every ovule was converted into a leaf with a long petiole.

"7. We now come to another form in which shoots were developed in the axils of the sepals, or on the face of the petals between the point of their insertion and that of the stamens, and, what is most curious, in the interior of the ovaries round the foot of the placenta.


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 "Some relative," replied Madeline.

"And did she acquaint you with the name of that relative?"

"No, and perhaps, after all, it was only an idle surmise of her own."

St. Julian left his seat, and traversed the apartment.

Madeline viewed him with consternation; her thoughts began to grow wild; and fears of the most frightful nature again assailed her heart.

"Oh, God! (she cried to herself, while every nerve was strained with agony at the idea) should the suspicions that now rack my breast be just!—-This torture of suspense is more than I can bear (continued she); I will throw myself at the feet of my father, I will disclose to him my suspicions; if false, he will pardon them, when he reflects on the combination of circumstances which exited


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  eaten, he said, he hoped that Providence would make them truly thankful. At the close of the Repas several of the boarders expressed their intention of going down the street to a restourong to get quelque chose à manger.

Here is another example. How interesting it would be to get a detailed account of that little affair at the Robinsons', of which the neighbours only heard indirectly! Thus:

Yesterday the family of Mr. Alonzo Robinson spent a very lively evening at their home on th Avenue. The occasion was the seventeenth birthday of Master Alonzo Robinson, junior. It was the original intention of Master Alonzo Robinson to celebrate the day at home and invite a few of les garçons. Mr. Robinson, senior, however, having declared that he would be damné first, Master Alonzo spent the evening in visiting the salons of the town, which he painted rouge. Mr. Robinson, senior, spent the evening at home in quiet expectation of his son's return. He was very becomingly dressed in a pantalon quatre vingt


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 them; if true, he will not surely shrink from reposing confidence in his child."

She rose, but almost instantly sunk upon her seat, recoiling from the dreadful idea of a child declaring to a parent her suspicion of his having committed one of the most horrible crimes which human nature can be capable of:—she shuddered, she wondered at her temerity, in having ever thought of doing so; and, as she wondered, the recollection of her father's precepts, his gentleness, his uniform piety, returning, she again began to believe, that in thinking he had ever deviated from integrity, she had done him the greatest injustice.

St. Julian, whose emotions prevented his noticing those of Madeline, soon resumed his seat; his countenance had lost its wildness, and a faint glow again mantled his cheek.

"I trust, my love, (cried he) you will not again listen to the idle surmises of the ser-


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 pretended to be convinced by his Arguments, and outwardly profeed to be reconciled.

As for the Bride, he was now in her Honey-moon, and o paionately fond of her new Huband, that he never appeared, to her, to be in the wrong; and his Dipleaure againt any Peron, was a ufficient Reaon for her Dilike to the ame.

The Captain, at Mr. Allworthy’s Intance, was outwardly, as we have aid, reconciled to his Brother, yet the ame Rancour remained in his Heart; and he found o many Opportunities of giving him private Hints of this, that the Houe at lat grew inupportable to the poor Doctor; and he choe rather to ubmit to any Inconveniencies which he might encounter in the World, than longer to bear thee cruel and ungrateful Inults, from a Brother for whom he had done o much.

He once intended to acquaint Allworthy with the whole; but he could not bring himelf to ubmit to the Confeion, by which he mut take to his Share o great a Portion of Guilt. Beides, by how much the wore Man he repreented his Brother to


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 vants: even on the slightest foundation they are apt to raise improbabilities and horrors, which, in spite of reason, make too often a dangerous impression on the mind, and overturn its quiet, by engendering superstition:—Heaven knows, (he proceeded) the evils of life are sufficiently great without adding to them those of the imagination."

Madeline assured him she would never more encourage any conversation from the domestics, on family affairs.

"You look fatigued, (said he) and I will now (rising as he spoke) leave you to repose; retire to it, my love, without fear or trembling; blessed with conscious innocence, you can dread no evil, no angry spirit demanding retribution:—Oh! never may your bosom lose that peace which must ever belong to virtue!—Oh! never may reflection break your slumbers, or an offended conscience present terrific images to your view. farewell, my child, (tenderly embracing her)


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 The male fish are kept in bottles separately, and when in a state of quiet they are dull looking little fish, but if two bottles be brought together, the little creatures become greatly excited and the raised fins and whole body shine with bright metallic colours of dazzling beauty.

If two male fish are then placed together they fight like terriers. When fighting they utter a curious ringing note which sounds like "Kring Kring" and probably this accounts for another name by which they are known viz. Ikan karing.

The Kěpar (Polyacanthus hasseltii) is another beautiful little fish and quite common in brackish swamps and ponds.

This fish has been bred in confinement by Chinese, probably for centuries, and is known as the Paradise fish to aquarium owners in Europe. In its native element, in dark or muddy water, it is of rather a drab brown colour but if kept in a bowl in clear water, it has a beautiful golden colour with red transverse bands.

CORAL FISHES.

(POMACENTRIDAE.)

This family resembles the (Coral Fishes) in form and mode of life, likewise in the brilliant colouration. For this reason I have applied the same English name in the absence of any other for this particular family.

Over 150 species are known. Some 30 species are described in Day's Fishes of India and probably the family is better represented in Malayan than in Indian waters.

As the names Inggu and Gombing shew, the Malays include and  in one family and curiously enough, the scaly-finned fishes  resemble the  so closely that in some instances actually the same colouration and markings are common to members of the two families. This, as remarked by Dr. Günther, is one of many instances shewing that the colouration of animals depends to a great extent on their mode of life and natural surroundings.

From an edible point of view they are not of much economic importance but all specimens brought to the markets seem to find ready purchasers.

"WRASSES" OR PARROT FISHES.

(LABRIDAE.)

The "Wrasses" form a large family of most brilliantly coloured marine fishes, inhabiting all the tropical and temperate coasts.

Their regime is partially herbivorous, partially carnivorous.. About 400 species are known.

Some of the members of this family have been observed to build nests for the protection of their eggs and young.


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 would to God thy father could sink to forgetfulness with a mind like thine!"

Heart-struck by the last words of her father, Madeline remained many minutes riveted to the spot on which he had left her, deeply ruminating on them; then starting, as if from a deep reverie,

"I must not think, (said she) since thought is so dreadful."

She felt fatigued, but it was more a mental than a bodily fatigue—that fatigue which repels, instead of inviting rest; besides a secret dread clung to her soul, which rendered her unwilling to go to bed; she therefore threw herself before a large crucifix that was placed near it, and continued to pray for her father, for herself, and for repose to the spirit of the murdered Philippe, till day began to dawn through the shutters. With night her terror decreased, and undressing herself, she then retired to bed; but the sleep into which she soon fell was broken by horrid visions, and


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 States much after the manner of those which Rome conquered two thousand years ago, or those which England subdues in our day. In diplomacy they matched the white man from Europe: they had self-control, knowledge of human nature, tact and sagacity, and they often became the arbiters in disputes between other peoples. Universal testimony has been borne to their oratory, of which the merit was its naturalness, and which bears the supreme test of translation. Convinced that they were born free, they bore themselves always with the pride which sprang from that consciousness. Sovereigns they were, and the only accountability they acknowledged was an accountability to the Great Spirit.

In war genius they have been equalled by no race of red men. The forts which they erected around their villages were essentially impregnable. An overwhelming force alone could enter them; artillery alone could destroy them. It was virtually an empire that they reared, and this empire of the sword, like the Empire of Rome, meant peace within its borders. Before the Europeans came, there had, unquestionably, for some generations, been peace among them. It was an ideal and an idyllic state of aboriginal life, all of which was to be overthrown by the white man when he arrived, bearing in one hand fire-arms, and in the other fire-water.

The period for which the province of New York had been occupied by the Iroquois, or Five Nations, at the time of the Dutch discovery, is not known. Morgan cites circumstances which show

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 The Witchcraft of Ulua

A bizarre and fantastic tale of the weird sendings of a wicked woman, and the luckless youth who became entangled in her toils

Sabmon the anchorite was famed no less for his piety than for his prophetic wisdom and knowledge of the dark art of sorcery. He had dwelt alone for two generations in a curious house on the rim of the northern desert of Tasuun: a house whose floor and walls were built from the large bones of dromedaries, and whose roof was a wattling composed of the smaller bones of wild dogs and men and hyenas. These ossuary relics, chosen for their whiteness and symmetry, were bound securely together with well-tanned thongs, and were joined and fitted with marvelous closeness, leaving no space for the blown sand to penetrate. This house was the pride of Sabmon, who swept it daily with a besom of mummy's hair, till it shone immaculate as polished ivory both within and without.

Despite his remoteness and reclusion, and the hardships that attended a journey to his abode, Sabmon was much consulted by the people of Tasuun, and was even sought by pilgrims from the farther shores of Zothique. However, though not ungracious or inhospitable, he often ignored the queries of his visitors, who, as a rule, wished merely to divine the future or to ask advice concerning the most advantageous government of their affairs. He became more and more taciturn with age, and spoke little with men in his last years. It was said, perhaps not untruly, that he preferred to talk with the murmuring palms about his well, or the wandering stars that went over his hermitage.

In the summer of Sabmon's ninety-third year, there came to him the youth Amalzain, his great-nephew, and the son of a niece that Sabmon had loved dearly in days before his retirement to a gymnosophic seclusion. Amalzain, who had spent all of his one-and-twenty years in the upland home of his parents, was on his way to Miraab, the capital of Tasuun, where he would serve as a cup-bearer to Famorgh the king. This post, obtained for him by influential friends of his father, was much coveted among the youth of the land, and would lead to high advancement if he were fortunate enough to win the king's favor. In accord with his mother's wish, he had come to visit Sabmon and to ask the counsel of the sage regarding various problems of worldly conduct.

Sabmon, whose eyes were undimmed by age and astronomy and much poring over volumes of archaic ciphers, was pleased with Amalzain and found in the boy something of his mother's beauty. And for this reason he gave freely of his hoarded wisdom; and, after uttering many profound and pertinent maxims, he said to Amalzain:

"It is indeed well that you have come to me: for, innocent of the world's turpitude, you fare to a city of strange sins and strange witcheries and sorceries. There are numerous evils in Miraab. Its women are witches and harlots, and their beauty is a foulness wherein the young, the strong, the valiant, are limed and taken."

Then, ere Amalzain departed, Sabmon


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 gave to him a small amulet of silver, graven curiously with the migniard skeleton of a girl. And Sabmon said:

"I counsel you to wear this amulet at all times henceforward. It contains a pinch of ashes from the pyre of Yos Ebni, sage and archimage, who won supremacy over men and demons in elder years by defying all mortal temptation and putting down the insubordination of the flesh. There is a virtue in these ashes, and they will protect you from such evils as were overcome by Yos Ebni. And yet, peradventure, there are ills and enchantments in Miraab from which the amulet can not defend you. In such case you must return to me. I shall watch over you carefully, and shall know all that occurs to you in Miraab: for I have long since become the owner of certain rare faculties of sight and hearing whose exercise is not debarred or limited by mere distance."

Amalzain, being ignorant of the matters at which Sabmon hinted, was somewhat bewildered by this peroration. But he received the amulet gratefully. Then, bidding Sabmon a reverential farewell, he resumed his journey to Miraab, wondering much as to the fortune that would befall him in that sinful and many-legended city.

2

Famorgh, who had grown old and senile amid his debaucheries, was the ruler of an aging, semi-desert land; and his court was a place of farsought luxury, of obliquitous refinement and corruption. The youth Amalzain, accustomed only to the simple manners, the rude virtues and vices of country-dwelling folk, was dazzled at first by the sybaritic life around him. But a certain innate strength of character, fortified by the moral teachings of his parents and the precepts of his great-uncle, Sabmon, preserved him from any grave errors or lapses.

Thus it was that he served as a cup-bearer at bachannalian revels, but remained abstemious throughout, pouring night after night in the ruby-crusted cup of Famorgh the maddening wines that were drugged with cannabis and the stupefying arrack with its infusion of poppy. With untainted heart and flesh he beheld the infamous mummeries whereby the courtiers, vying with each other in shamelessness, attempted to lighten the king's ennui. Feeling only wonder or disgust, he watched the nimble and lascivious contortions of black dancers from Dooza Thom in the north, or saffron-bodied girls from the southern isles. His parents, who believed implicitly in the superhuman goodness of monarchs, had not prepared him for this spectacle of royal vice; but the reverence they had instilled so thoroughly into Amalzain led him to regard it all as being the peculiar but mysterious prerogative of the kings of Tasuun.

During his first month in Miraab, Amalzain heard much of the Princess Ulua, sole daughter of Famorgh and Queen Lunalia; but since the women of the royal family seldom attended the banquets or appeared in public, he did not see her. The huge and shadowy palace, however, was filled with whispers concerning her amours. Ulua, he was told, had inherited the sorceries of her mother Lunalia, whose dark, luxurious beauty, so often sung by bewitched poets, was now fallen to a haggish decrepitude. The lovers of Ulua were innumerable, and she often procured their passion or insured their fidelity by other charms than those of her person. Though little taller than a child, she was exquisitely formed and endowed with the loveliness of some fema


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 le demon that might haunt the slumbers of youth. She was feared by many and her ill will was deemed a dangerous thing. Famorgh, no less blind to her sins and witcheries than he had been to those of Lunalia, indulged her in all ways and denied her nothing.

Amalzain's duties left him much idle time, for Famorgh usually slept the double sleep of age and intoxication after the evening revels. Much of this time he gave to the study of algebra and the reading of olden poems and romances. One morning, while he was engaged with certain algebraic calculations, there came to Amalzain a huge negress who had been pointed out to him as one of Ulua's waiting-women. She told him peremptorily that he was to follow her to the apartments of Ulua. Bewildered and amazed by this singular interruption of his studies, he was unable to reply for a moment. Thereupon, seeing his hesitation, the great black woman lifted him in her naked arms and carried him easily from the room and through the palace halls. Angry, and full of discomfiture, he found himself deposited in a chamber hung with shameless designs, where, amid the fuming of aphrodisiac vapors, the princess regarded him with luxurious gravity from a couch of fire-bright scarlet. She was small as a woman of the elf-folk, and voluptuous as a coiled lamia. The incense floated about her like sinuous veils.

"There are other things than the pouring of wine for a sottish monarch, or the study of worm-eaten volumes," said Ulua in a voice that was like the flowing of hot honey. "Sir cup-bearer, your youth should have a better employment than these."

"I ask no employment, other than my duties and studies," replied Amalzain ungraciously. "But tell me, O princess, what is your will? Why has your serving-woman brought me here in a fashion so unseemly?"

"For a youth so erudite and clever, the question should be needless," answered Ulua, smiling obliquely. "See you not that I am beautiful and desirable? Or can it be that your perceptions are duller than I had thought?"

"I do not doubt that you are beautiful," said the boy, "but such matters hardly concern a humble cup-bearer."

The vapors, mounting thickly from golden thuribles before the couch, were parted with a motion as of drawn draperies; and Amalzain lowered his gaze before the enchantress, who shook with a soft laughter that made the jewels upon her bosom twinkle like living eyes.

"It would seem that those musty volumes have indeed blinded you," she told him. "You have need of that euphrasy which purges the sight. Go now: but return presently—of your own accord."

For many days thereafter, Amalzain, going about his duties as usual, was aware of a strange haunting. It seemed now that Ulua was everywhere. Appearing at the revels, as if by some new caprice, she flaunted her evil beauty in the eyes of the young cup-bearer; and often, by day, he met her in the palace gardens and corridors. All men spoke of her, as if conspiring tacitly to keep her in his thoughts; and it seemed that even the heavy arrases whispered her name as they rustled in the lost winds that wandered through the gloomy and interminable halls.

This, however, was not all: for her undesired image began to trouble his nightly dreams; and awakening, he heard the warm dulcet languor of her voice, and felt the caress of light and subtle fingers in the darkness. Peering at the pale


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 she arose in the morning, pale, and unrefreshed.

The sun beamed bright through the casements, and on the stately trees that waved before them, unnumbered birds poured forth their matin lay, intermingled with the simple carol of the woodman: but neither the bright beams of the sun, the melodious notes of soaring birds, nor the wild song of the peasant, could now, as heretofore, delight the mind of Madeline. Saddened beyond expression by obtrusive ideas, she strove to banish that sadness by banishing thought—but, ah! how vain the effort! the "vital spark of heavenly flame" within us must be extinguished, ere we can cease to think.


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 moon that waxed beyond the windows, above the black cypresses, he saw her dead, corroded face assume the living features of Ulua. The lithe and migniard form of the young witch appeared to move among the fabulous queens and goddesses that thronged the opulent hangings with their amours. Beheld as if through enchantment, her face leaned beside his in the mirrors; and she came and vanished, phantom-like, with seductive murmurs and wanton gestures, as he bent over his books. But though he was perturbed by these appearances, in which he could scarce distinguish the real from the illusory, Amalzain was still indifferent toward Ulua, being surely protected from her charms by the amulet containing the ashes of Yos Ebni, saint and sage and archimage. From certain curious flavors detected more than once in his food and drink, he suspected that the love-potions for which she had become infamous were being administered to him; but beyond a light and passing qualmishness, he experienced no ill effect whatever; and he was wholly ignorant of the spells woven against him in secret, and the thrice-lethal invultuations that were designed to wound his heart and senses.

Now (though he knew it not) his indifference was a matter of much gossip at the court. Men marvelled greatly at such exemption: for all whom the princess had chosen heretofore, whether captains, cup-bearers or high dignitaries, or common soldiers and grooms, had yielded easily to her bewitchments. So it came to pass that Ulua was angered, since all men knew that her beauty was scorned by Amalzain, and her sorcery was impotent to ensnare him. Thereupon she ceased to appear at the revels of Famorgh; and Amalzain beheld her no longer in the halls and gardens; and neither his dreams nor his waking hours were haunted any more by the spell-wrought semblance of Ulua. So, in his innocence, he rejoiced as one who has encountered a grave peril and has come forth unharmed.

Then, later, on a moonless night, as he lay sleeping tranquilly in the moonless hours before dawn, there came to him in his dream a figure muffled from crown to heel with the vestments of the tomb. Tall as a caryatid, awful and menacing, it leaned above him in silence more malignant than any curse; and the cerements fell open at the breast, and charnel-worms and death-scarabs and scorpions, together with shreds of rotting flesh, rained down upon Amalzain. Then, as he awoke from his nightmare, sick and stifled, he breathed a carrion fetor, and felt against him the pressure of a still, heavy body. Affrighted, he rose and lit the lamp; but the bed was empty. Yet the odor of putrefaction still lingered; and Amalzain could have sworn that the corpse of a woman, two weeks dead and teeming with maggots, had laid closely at his side in the darkness.

Thereafter, for many nights, his slumbers were broken by such foulnesses as this. Hardly could he sleep at all for the horror of that which came and went, invisible but palpable, in his chamber. Always he awoke from ill dreams, to find about him the stiffened arms of long-dead succubi, or to feel at his side the amorous trembling of fleshless skeletons. He was choked by the natron and bitumen of mummied breasts; he was crushed by the unremoving weight of gigantic liches; he was kissed nauseously by lips that were oozing tatters of corruption.

Nor was this all; for other abominations came to him by day, visible and perceived through all his senses, and more loathsome even than the dead.


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 Things that seemed as the leavings of leprosy crawled before him at high noon in the halls of Famorgh; and they rose up from the shadows and sidled toward him, leering whitely with faces that were no longer faces, and trying to caress him with their half-eaten fingers. About his ankles, as he went to and fro, there clung lascivious empusae with breasts that were furred like the bat; and serpent-bodied lamiae minched and pirouetted before his eyes, like the dancers before the king.

No longer could he read his books or solve his problems of algebra in peace: for the letters changed from moment to moment beneath his scrutiny and were twisted into runes of evil meaning; and the signs and ciphers he had written were turned into devils no bigger than large emmets, that writhed foully across the paper as if on a field, performing those rites which are acceptable only to Alila, queen of perdition and goddess of all iniquities.

Thus plagued and bedevilled, the youth Amalzain was near to madness; yet he dared not complain or speak to others of aught that he beheld; for he knew that these horrors, whether immaterial or substantial, were perceived only by himself. Nightly, for the full period of a moon, he lay with dead things in his chamber; and daily, in all his comings and goings, he was besought by abhorrent specters. And he doubted not that all these were the sendings of Ulua, angered by his refusal of her love; and he remembered that Sabmon had hinted darkly of certain enchantments from which the ashes of Yes Ebni, preserved in the silver amulet, might be powerless to defend him. And, knowing that such enchantments were upon him now, he recalled the final injunction of the old archimage.

So, feeling that there was no help for him save in the wizardry of Sabmon, he went before King Famorgh and begged a short leave of absence from the court. And Famorgh, who was well pleased with the cup-bearer, and moreover had begun to note his thinness and pallor, granted the request readily.

Mounted on a palfrey chosen for speed and endurance, Amalzain rode northward from Miraab on a sultry morning in autumn. A strange heaviness had stilled all the air; and great coppery clouds were piled like towering, many-domed palaces of genii on the desert hills. The sun appeared to swim in molten brass. No vultures flew on the silent heavens; and the very jackals had retired to their lairs, as if in fear of some unknown doom. But Amalzain, riding swiftly toward Sabmon's hermitage, was haunted still by leprous larvae that rose before him, posturing foully on the dun sands; and he heard the desirous moaning of succubi under the hooves of his horse.

The night waylaid him, airless and starless, as he came to a well amid dying palms. Here he lay sleepless, with the curse of Ulua still upon him: for it seemed that the dry, dusty liches of desert tombs reclined rigidly at his side; and bony fingers wooed him toward the unfathomable sand-pits from which they had risen.

Weary and devil-ridden, he reached the wattled house of Sabmon at noon of the next day. The sage greeted him affectionately, showing no surprise, and listened to his story with the air of one who harkens a twice-told tale.

"These things, and more, were known to me from the beginning," he said to Amalzain. "I could have saved you from the sendings of Ulua ere now; but it was my wish that you should come to me at this time, forsaking the court of the dotard Famorgh and the evil city of


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 Miraab, whose iniquities are now at the full. The imminent doom of Miraab, though unread by her astrologers, has been declared in the heavens; and I would not that you should share the doom."

"It is needful," he went on, "that the spells of Ulua should be broken on this very day, and the sendings returned to her that sent them; since otherwise they would haunt you for ever, remaining as a visible and tangible plague when the witch herself has gone to her black lord, Thasaidon, in the seventh hell."

Then, to the wonderment of Amalzain, the old magician brought forth from a cabinet of ivory an elliptic mirror of dark and burnished metal and placed it before him. The mirror was held aloft by the muffled hands of a veiled image; and peering within it, Amalzain saw neither his own face nor the face of Sabmon, nor aught of the room itself reflected. And Sabmon enjoined him to watch the mirror closely, and then repaired to a small oratory that was curtained from the chamber with long and queerly painted rolls of camel-parchment.

Watching the mirror, Amalzain was aware that certain of the sendings of Ulua came and went beside him, striving ever to gain his attention with unclean gestures such as harlots use. But resolutely he fixed his eyes on the void and unreflecting metal; and anon he heard the voice of Sabmon chanting without pause the powerful words of an antique formula of exorcism; and now from between the oratory curtains there issued the intolerable pungency of burning spices, such as are employed to drive away demons.

Then Amalzain perceived, without lifting his eyes from the mirror, that the sendings of Ulua had vanished like vapors blown away by the desert wind. But in the mirror a scene limned itself darkly, and he seemed to look on the marble towers of the city of Miraab beneath overlooming bastions of ominous cloud. Then the scene shifted, and he saw the palace hall where Famorgh nodded in wine-stained purple, senile and drunken, amid his ministers and sycophants. Again the mirror changed, and he beheld a room with tapestries of shameless design, where, on a couch of fire-bright crimson, the Princess Ulua sat with her latest lovers amid the fuming of golden thuribles.

Marvelling as he peered within the mirror, Amalzain witnessed a strange thing; for the vapors of the thuribles, mounting thickly and voluminously, took from instant to instant the form of those very apparitions by which he had been bedevilled so long. Ever they rose and multiplied, till the chamber teemed with the spawn of hell and the vomitings of the riven charnel. Between Ulua and the lover at her right hand, who was a captain of the king's guard, there coiled a monstrous lamia, enfolding them both in its serpentine volumes and crushing them with its human bosom; and close at her left hand appeared a half-eaten corpse, leering with lipless teeth, from whose cerements worms were sifted upon Ulua and her second lover, who was a royal equerry. And, swelling like the fumes of some witches' vat, those other abominations pressed about the couch of Ulua with obscene mouthings and fingerings.

At this, like the mark of a hellish branding, horror was printed on the features of the captain and the equerry; and a terror rose in the eyes of Ulua like a pale flame ignited in sunless pits; and her breasts shuddered beneath the breast-cups. And now, in a trice, the mirrored room began to rock violently, and the censers were overturned on the tilting


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 flags, and the shameless hangings shook and bellied like the blown sails of a vessel in storm. Great cracks appeared in the floor, and beside the couch of Ulua a chasm deepened swiftly and then widened from wall towall. The whole chamber was riven asunder, and the princess and her two lovers, with all her loathly sendings about them, were hurled tumultuously into the chasm.

After that, the mirror darkened, and Amalzain beheld for a moment the pale towers of Miraab, tossing and falling on heavens black as adamant. The mirror itself trembled, and the veiled image of metal supporting it began to totter and seemed about to fall; and the wattled house of Sabmon shook in the passing earthquake, but, being stoutly built, stood firm while the mansions and palaces of Miraab went down in ruin.

When the earth had ceased its long trembling, Sabmon issued from the oratory.

"It is needless to moralize on what has happened," he said. "You have learned the true nature of carnal desire, and have likewise beheld the history of mundane corruption. Now, being wise, you will turn early to those things which are incorruptible and beyond the world."

Thereafter, till the death of Sabmon, Amalzain dwelt with him and became his only pupil in the science of the stars and the hidden arts of enchantment andsorcery.


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 that the Iroquois League had existed for about a century when the Dutch landed, thus carrying its formation back almost to the coming of Columbus. Indian tradition pointed to a much older date, but Indian tradition is a very uncertain guide for dates. We know that before the League was formed, the Iroquois had long been in possession of these New York lands. They came originally from the St. Lawrence Valley and had lived near the site of Montreal, at which point some of their descendants now reside. But when their first migration into Central New York took place, we do not know. Five nations originally composed the League, the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas; but the Tuscaroras, who had long lived in North Carolina, early in the eighteenth century, were permitted to settle in New York and become members of the federation. Thenceforth these Indians were known as the Six Nations.

Writers have been fond of dwelling upon the masterly statesmanship which directed the formation of the League. So far from being a compact designed to promote war, its avowed purpose, as understood by Hale, was "to abolish war altogether." Dr. Brinton is quoted by Grinnell as pronouncing the scheme "one of the most far-sighted and, in its aims, the most beneficent" that ever statesman designed for mankind. After its formation the Iro-

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 These nests in the European Labrus are made of sea-weeds, zoophytes, corals, broken shells, etc., and are the work of both the male and female. It is also in this family that sleep was first observed in fishes, and this has been fully verified by Mobius, on Labrus ruprestis in an aquarium, the fish seeking a sleeping place at night and laying itself down to rest on one side.

Tokak is the generic name applied by Malays to those members of this family which are provided with strong canine-like teeth. (See Wilkinson's Dictionary, p. 201. Tokak. Biting, used of dogs, sharks, tigers, and other animals which use their teeth as a weapon of offence.)

The teeth of these fishes are used however for crushing shells, coral, etc.

A Tokak (Chaerops omnopterus) is known in New South Wales and Queensland as the Blue-spotted Groper.

Little use is made of this large family of fine edible fishes from a commercial point of view.

Their capture is confined to the hand line and to basket traps. Their habitat, deep water in the vicinity of coral reefs, renders the use of ordinary nets impossible but the trammel net which is unknown in this region should prove effective.

Many members of this family attain a weight of 50 pounds.

PARROT-WRASSES.

(SCARIDAE.)

This family is closely allied to the preceding, with which they have been usually united, but differing in the more or less coalescent teeth, forming, often, a parrot-like beak.

I have placed the Běchok in this family and also among the as there are several species.

Mr. A. W. H. Hamilton, who is an authority on Malayan sea-fishes, tells me that the Malays of the Western part of Singapore confine the synonym Běchok to a fish with green teeth, which seems to identify his fish as Pseudodax moluccanus (Day, 2nd edition Vol. II, p. 421).

HORSE MACKERELS.

(CARANGIDAE.)

A large and important family of carnivorous fishes, all of which are edible and many of large size.

Members of this family compose the bulk of the fish taken in nets on the East coast, which are dried and salted for export.

Some of our principal local varieties are the Chĕncharu (Caranx rottleri), the Sělar (Caranx, not less than 12 species), the Chermin (C. gallus), the Nyior nyior (Trachynotus spp.) and the Talang (Chorinemus spp.).


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  treize, and had his whippe de chien laid across his knee. Madame Robinson and the Mademoiselles Robinson wore black. The guest of the evening arrived at a late hour. He wore his habits de spri, and had about six pouces of eau de vie in him. He was evidently full up to his cou. For some time after his arrival a very lively time was spent. Mr. Robinson having at length broken the whippe de chien, the family parted for the night with expressions of cordial goodwill.


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 When freshly caught and cooked they are all excellent eating, but they do not keep well.

The Chĕncharu is quite common and is found in large shoals. When in season, large numbers will be found in the markets and if quite fresh they are good edible fish. They are said to attain a length of 5 feet.

All the Sělar are good eating, but the fresher they are the better. They give good sport with a light rod and small hook, to which a few small white feathers have been "whipped."

They like shade and will be found in the neighbourhood of piers and under vessels. When cruising, I have often noticed Sělar taking shelter under my yacht, when we were becalmed, and if the period coincided with a meal time, we used to catch as many as we wanted in a few minutes.

There are, at times, large numbers of Sělar in shallow water off Singapore as, probably, many sea-side residents know.

The Chermin (C. gallus) is a deep-bodied fish somewhat resembling the Dory in shape and is one of the best, if not the best, food fish in this family. It is found generally on reefs; takes a prawn or fish bait, and gives splendid sport as it fights very hard and takes a bit of playing.

Specimens 2 feet in length are not uncommon and it is said to grow to five feet in length. It is known in Australia as the Silvery Moon-fish.

The Nyior nyior (Trachynotus ovatus and T. bailloni) are known in Australia as the Dart. These fish must be fresh to be appreciated.

The Talang (Chorinemus spp.) is a common fish in the markets and fairly popular with most Asiatics, but some Malays have a prejudice against it and will tell you that it gives them an irritating and disfiguring affection of the skin.

It may be that the general appearance of these fish, all of which have a row of dark blotches along the side, may suggest the unsightly blotches seen on the faces, bodies and limbs of natives who are afflicted with certain kinds of skin disease, kĕdal, sopak, etc. or that the consumption of this fish when not perfectly fresh causes urticaria, but the subject should be worth investigation.

One local species of Talang (S. sancti-petri) is known also in Australia as the Queen-fish, and another (S. tooloo-parah) is known also in Philippine waters as the Talang-talang.

There are many other excellent food fish in this family including the Lĕmbudok or Děmudok, Gěrěpoh and Berkas, not specifically identified.

The generic term by which the Caranx branch of this family is known to the Moros, in the Philippines, is Daing puti. The name Daing bělang occurs locally and is applied to Caranx speciosus and C. compressus.


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 rocks all under water, with a will-o'-the wisp kind of buoy, that may be there or not to advertise them. One rock at Tobokanni has the civility to show its head above water, and a chum of his, that lies about a mile W. by S. from Tobokanni Point, has the seas constantly breaking on it. The coast there is practically reefed for the next eight miles, with a boat channel near the shore. But there is a gap in this reef at Young Sesters, through which, if you handle her neatly, you can run a ship in. In some places this reef of rock is three-quarters of a mile out to sea. Trade Town is the next place where you may now call for cargo. Its particular rock lies a mile out and shows well with the sea breaking on it. After Trade Town the rocks are more scattered, and the bit of coast by Kurrau River rises in cliffs 40 to 60 feet high. The sand at their base is strewn with fallen blocks on which the surf breaks with great force, sending the spray up in columns; and until you come to Sestos River the rocks are innumerable, but not far out to sea, so you can keep outside them unless you want to run in to the little factory at Tembo. Just beyond Sestos River, three-quarters of a mile S.S.W. of Fen River, there are those Fen rocks on which the sea breaks, but between these and the Manna rocks, which are a little more than a mile from shore N.W. by N. from Sestos River, there are any quantity of rocks marked and not marked on the chart. These Manna rocks are a jolly bad lot, black, and only a few breaking, and there is a shoal bank to the S.E. of these for half a mile, then for the next four miles, there are not more than 70 hull openers to the acre. Most of them are not down on the chart, so there's plenty of opportunity now about for you to do a little African discovery until you come to Sestos reef, off a point of the same name, projecting half a mile to westwards

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 MACKERELS, TUNNIES, ETC.

(SCOMBRIDAE.)

The fishes of the "Mackerel " family are pelagic forms, abundant in all the seas of the tropical and temperate zones. They travel about in shoals, spawn in the open sea, but periodically approach the shore in pursuit of other fishes on which they feed.

Our most important local members of this family are the Pělata (Siamese pla thu) (Scomber microlepidotus), the Tongkol (Thynnus thunnina) and the Tĕnggiri (Cybium spp.).

The Pělata is a fish of great commercial importance in Siam and on the East Coast, where it is extensively salted and dried for export.

The Tongkol is the Malay generic term for the Tunny and, I believe, for the Bonito also. These fish gives excellent sport when they are on the feed but often one sees a school of these fish jumping and disporting themselves, and on such occasions they seem to disdain the bait which is "trolled" past them.

The Tĕnggiri is, in my opinion, the best fish in our waters. The best both from a sporting and from an edible point of view, but I may be prejudiced in its favour because I have had more sport with this fish than with any other. Seale gives corroborative evidence as to its edible qualities as follows, "In this family is the tanguingue, which is a true Spanish Mackerel. By many people this is regarded as the finest food fish in the Philippine waters."

A recent visitor to Singapore from Queensland told me that he had had great sport with these fish on the Barrier Reef and that they attained a weight of 100 pounds.

The big fish stay out in deep water and the best time to take them is during the N. E. monsoon. The best bait is a whole fish about 8 or 9 inches long, and at least 100 or 150 yards of line should be run off the reel, so as to keep the bait a long way astern as you sail along in a good breeze.

When making a passage in a heavy sea with no time for rod fishing we used to boom out as many as five brass wire lines and perhaps have two or three fish on at once averaging 20 pounds or so.

When our fisheries are better understood and depots with refrigerating plant are established on the islands off the East coast, more attention will certainly be paid to our oceanic fishes. Sea going fishing smacks should do a good trade with catches of Bonito, Tunny and Spanish mackerel.

One of the Spanish mackerels in America is one of the most highly esteemed of all American fishes and always commands a high price. Stead mentions that the catch in 1897 amounted to 1,183,456 pounds, worth nearly £14,000.


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 quois rose rapidly in power and eventually made their influence felt all over the eastern part of the continent. They are known to have carried their arms westward to the Mississippi and southward to the Carolinas. They entered Mexico, and La Salle found them in Illinois. Captain John Smith, while exploring Chesapeake Bay, encountered there a small fleet of their canoes. Other Indians assured him that the Mohawks "made war upon all the world."

Everywhere these New York Indians were conquerors. They gained at last a recognized mastery over territory that now forms States and might make an empire, their influence reaching its height at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Morgan declares that in point of sway they had reared the most powerful empire that ever existed in America north of the Aztec monarchy. Miss Yawger quotes a remark, that their authority at one time extended over a larger domain than was embraced in the Empire of Rome, and Ellis H. Roberts has said they " ran in conquest farther than the Greek arms were ever carried, and to distances which Rome surpassed only in the days of its culminating glory." As for the ultimate purpose of the League being the abolition of war, this undoubtedly was its tendency, once conquest had been achieved. As with the Empire of Rome, so with the Empire of the Iroquois; within the borders of the empire there was peace. Morgan believes the Iroquois might have achieved still greater eminence. Parkman says they afford "perhaps an example of the highest elevation which man can reach without emerging from the primitive condition of the hunter." But deadly enemies arrived when the white man came with his ambitions and his fire-water.

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 HAIRTAILS.

(TRICHIURIDAE.)

The Timah-timah (Trichiurus spp.) are some of our commonest fishes and are generally on sale in the markets.

I have never eaten them but the Chinese and Indians purchase them readily.

These fish have no caudal fin, the body being ribbon like and tapering to a fine point.

Miniature specimens an inch or two in length form a considerable proportion of the catches of illegal purse nets. The ordinary size of marketable specimens is about three to four feet.

Day quotes Russell as observing that in his time they were esteemed by the European soldiers in India, and Jerdon states that they afford very delicate eating.

SAIL-FISHES.

(HISTIOPHORIDAE.)

A family of large oceanic fishes, occurring in tropical or subtropical seas. On account of their formidable sword, large specimens are held in dread by fishermen and are rarely taken and still more rarely preserved.

The Japanese in Hawaii have a regular fishery for Sail-Fish and Tuna. The Japanese fishermen in Singapore, who are the only deep water fishermen in our waters and whose methods are much more enterprising and thorough than those of the Malays and Chinese, are taking these fish occasionally.

I am informed that a Sail-Fish, three fathoms long was sold in the Clyde Terrace market within the past two weeks, but the information arrived too late to enable me to get a photograph.

This fish is known to Malays as Sělayer or Layeran (Layer, a sail), and is by no means rare.

FLAT-FISHES.

(PLEURONECTIDAE.)

Flat fishes are a large group of some 500 species, mostly marine.

The very young are transparent and symmetrical with an eye on each side, and swim in a vertical position like other fishes.

As they grow, the eye of one side moves by degrees to the other side, where it becomes the upper eye.

If, at that age, the dorsal fin does not extend to the frontal region, the migrating eye simply moves over the line of the profile; in other genera, the dorsal fin has already extended to the snout before the migration takes place, and the eye, passing between the


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 It is interesting to reflect that this federation of warlike people had for its capital a small village near Onondaga Lake where general congresses were held, and the policy of the League agreed upon. To Onondaga, highways from the south, east, and west conveniently led. These men lived on the highest land of the continent east of the Mississippi. They were at the head-waters of great rivers, and thus were able to reach nations less powerful than themselves, whom repeatedly they brought into subjection. Past the confluence of the Unadilla and Susquehanna rivers, messengers of peace or war, warriors going to battle and returning from victories in the south, made their way.

This strategic advantage in very notable manner was to serve the Indians in the eighteenth century when menaced by a conflict between Europeans—the English and the French—for possession of their country. No one understood the advantage better than the Indians themselves. At Onondaga they declared that "if the French should prevail so far as to attempt to drive us out of our country, we can with our old men, wives and children, come down the streams of the Mohawk River, the Delaware, both branches of the Susquehanna and the Potomac, to the English. If the English should expell us our country, we have a like conveyance to the French by the streams of St. Lawrence and Sorrell River, and if both should join, we can retire across the Lakes."

The Iroquois, though powerful as a confederacy, were never a numerous people. Just before the Revolution it is unlikely that they numbered more

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 than 15,000 souls, if so many—hardly one-third the present population of Otsego County. When their influence was greatest, and they had not begun to suffer from the white man's vices, they are believed to have numbered perhaps 25,000, though never more. As late as 1873, official reports placed the total number then living at 13,660. At the close of the Revolution their population was considerably less than at the beginning; instead of 15,000 it probably did not equal the number returned in 1873. More of the Iroquois may, therefore, be living now than were living at the close of the Revolution.

Those Iroquois lands of which this volume mainly treats, had been the property of the Mohawks and Oneidas. The Unadilla River and part of the present town of Unadilla, with perhaps all of it, were Oneida territory. Farther east were Mohawk lands. The Oneidas are known to have sold land as far east as Herkimer and Delhi. Evidence, however, which Morgan regards as safe, begins the line of division at a point five miles east of Utica and extends it directly south to Pennsylvania, making Unadilla border-land between the two nations. Lands in several parts of Otsego County were sold by the Mohawks, but none lay as far west as Unadilla. John M. Brown, who went to Schoharie in 1750, says that after 1763 or

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 frontal bone and the tissues supporting the fin, appears to pass from side to side through the head, as was believed by some of the earlier observers.

As a food supply the flat-fishes are of great importance, the flesh of the majority being of excellent quality and flavour, and they are deservedly popular with Europeans in Malaya.

The family is represented in our waters by, certainly, not less than 19 species, of which 12 are included in the systematic list in this work.

The Malay generic terms are Ikan sabělah and Ikan lidah for all members of this family, but in some districts the name Sabělah is applied to those genera which have a distinct caudal fin (Psettodes, Pseudorhombhus) and the name Lidah to the tongue-shaped genera (Synaptura, Plagusia, Cynoglossus).

In the Straits of Malacca these fish are very common in shallow water on sand and mud where they keep close to the bottom. This habit of keeping close to the bottom renders them particularly liable to capture by the beam or "Otter" trawl. I have taken these fish in a beam trawl in fair numbers both off Singapore and off the Krian coast.

On the great Kra flats off Krian which are formed of very soft mud I found it necessary to fit "ski" or wooden skates to the irons of the trawl to enable the trawl to slide on the surface of the mud, and took considerable numbers of these fish as well as some large Rays.

I should expect a trawler to be successful on the long banks and in the deep water gullies which, as a glance at the chart will shew, run in the direction of the prevailing currents, in many parts of the steamer route between Penang and Singapore.

An enormous amount of destruction of immature flat fish takes place daily in shallow water, specimens an inch or two in length being taken in seine nets and purse-nets from one end of the Straits to the other. A special effort should be made to stop this murder of miniature fish which has diminished our food supply to a very considerable extent.

Two species of our Ikan sabělah are found on the Queensland coast. One, Psettodes crumei, is known as the Queensland Halibut, and the other, Pseudorhombus rusellii, is generally called the "Flounder."

GOBIES.

(GOBIIDAE.)

A large family of some 600 species, the great majority marine, mostly carnivorous and of small size.

The largest form (Eleotris marmorata) from the rivers of Siam, Borneo. Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula grows to nearly three feet, whilst the smallest (Mystichthys luzonensis) from the


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 with a lot of foul ground round it. Spence rock which breaks, is W. two-thirds S., distant $1 1⁄4$ miles from Sestos Point; within 5 miles of it is the rock which The Corisco discovered in 1885. It is not down on the chart yet, all these set of rocks round Sestos are sharp too, so the lead gives you no warning, and you are safer right-away from them. Then there's a very nasty one called Diabolitos, I expect those old Portuguese found it out, it's got a lot of little ones which extend 2 miles and more to seaward. There is another devil rock off Bruni, called by the natives Ba Ya. It stands 60 feet above sea-level, and has a towering crown of trees on it. It is a bad one is this, for in thick weather, as it is a mile off shore and isolated, it is easily mistaken, and so acts as a sort of decoy for the lot of sunken devil rocks which are round it. Further along towards Baffu there are four more rocks a mile out, and forest ground on the way."

I just give you this bit of information as an example, because I happen to have this rough rock list of it; but a little to the east the rocks and dangers of the Kru Coast are quite as bad, both in quantity and quality, indeed, more so, for there is more need for vessels to call. I often think of this bit of coast when I see people unacquainted with the little local peculiarities of dear West Africa looking at a map thereof and wondering why such and such a Bay is not utilised as a harbour, or such and such a river not navigated, or this, that and the other bit of Coast so little known of and traded with. Such undeveloped regions have generally excellent local reasons, reasons that cast no blame on white man's enterprise or black man's savagery. They are rock-reefed coast or barred rivers, and therefore not worth the expense to the trader of

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 THE THREE GIFTS OF M. D'ARTAGNAN THE ELDER.

On the first Monday of the month of April, 1625, the small town of Meung, the birthplace of the author “Romance of the Rose,” appeared to be in as complete a state of revolution as if the Huguenots had come to make a second siege of La Rochelle. Many of the townsmen, seeing the women flying along the chief street, and leaving the children squalling at their thresholds, hastened to don their armour, and, fortifying their somewhat doubtful courage with a musket or partisan, they proceeded toward the hostelry of the Jolly Miller, in front of a which a noisy and accumulating crowd was buzzing with intense curiosity.

At that period alarms were frequent, and few days passed without some town or other registering in its archives an event of this description. There were the nobles, who made war on each other; there was the kind, who made war on the cardinal; there was the Spaniard who made war on the king. Then besides these conflicts, secret or open, there were, moreover, robbers, beggars, Huguenots, wolves, and lackeys, who made war on the world. The townsmen always armed themselves against the robbers, the wolves and the lackeys;


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 pines, attains a length of about half an inch and is believed to be the smallest known fish.

The family is not of much economic importance at present and I have no personal knowledge of their edible qualities.

Our most noteworthy species are the Bělontok (Eleotris marmorata) the Bělodok (Gobius spp.), the Tĕmbakul and Bělachak (Periophthalmus spp.).

The Bělontok has already been alluded to as attaining a large size and not less than seven species are known to inhabit our waters.

One of our Bělodok (G. butis) is said by Day to be much esteemed by the natives of India, as being very light and wholesome, but unless elaborately cooked is not relished by Europeans, because of its deficiency in, or earthy, taste.

It attains a length of a foot and a half, takes a bait freely and is largely bred in tanks in India.

The Tĕmbakul and Bělachak will be familiar to most residents in Malaya as the Mud-Skippers which may be seen disporting themselves on the mud and among the mangroves, along all our coasts and estuaries.

Malays have told me that these fish are good eating and possess great medicinal virtues.

They have very conspicuous prominent eyes, which are capable of protrusion and retraction, and extraordinary muscular pectoral fins which they use like arms for progression on mud and for climbing.

Day writes, "They climb on to trees, holding on by their pectoral fins exactly as if they were arms. Now and then they plant these firmly as organs of support, the same as one places one's elbows on a table, then they raise their heads and take a deliberate survey of surrounding objects."

Saville-Kent is quoted by Stead as follows:

"A remarkable circumstance associated with the life economy of Periophthalmus is the fact that it cannot sustain life if continually water-submerged like ordinary fish. The exposure of its tissues to the action of atmospheric air with every fall of the tide appears to be essential to its well-being, and examples experimentally kept under water for prolonged intervals were literally drowned.

"As a provision for its abnormal life-habits, it has been ascertained that Periophthalmus possesses a supplementary respiratory organ which, singular to relate, is represented, in this instance, in the creature's tail.

"The fish while reposing on the surface of the mud commonly leaves its tail more or less immersed in the water. The blood circulates with abnormal energy through this thin membranous appendage, which accordingly fulfils the function of a supplementary gill."