discovered. Here six persons, including Andy, Jack, Tim-with his gun between his legs-and Owen, sat to play for a pig's head, of which the living owner, in the parlour below, testified, in frequent grunts, his displeasure at this unceremonious disposal of his property. One boy held several splinters to light them, and another was charged with the sole business of making more, and drying them in little bundles at the fire. This, however, did not prevent him from making many sallies to discover the state of the game. A ring, two or three deep, surrounded the players, and in their looks exhibited the most keen interest. This group formed what might he termed the foreground of the picture. In one corner were squatted five boys and three girls, also playing cards for pins. But, notwithstanding the smallness of the stakes, there were innumerable scuffles, and an unceasing clamour kept up, through which the treble of the girls was sure to be heard, and which, every now and then, required curses loud and deep, from some unfortunate player at the large table, to silence. On the block by the fire sat Paddy himself, convulsing a large audience with laughter at some humorous story, or at one of his own practical jokes, while his wife bustled about, beat the dog, set pieces of plates and keelers to receive the rain wherever it oozed through the thatch, and occasionally stopped, half-provoked and half-admiring, to shake her head at her husband. Card-playing is very thirsty, and the boys were anxious to keep out the wet; so that long before the pig's head was decided, a messenger had been dispatched to Killarney, a distance of four English miles, for a pint of whisky each time. The ale also went merrily round, until most of the men were quite stupid, their faces swoln, and their eyes red and heavy. The contest at length was decided; but a quarrel about the skill of the respective parties succeeded, and threatened broken heads at one time. Indeed, had Tim been able to effect the purpose at which he diligently labour ed, of getting the gun to his shoulder, it is very probable he would have taken ample satisfaction for some dreadful affront offered him by Andy; who, on his part, directed all his discourse to a large wooden gallon at the other end of the table. The imperturbable coolness of his opponent provoked Andy exceedingly. Abuse is bad enough; but contemptuous silence is more than flesh and blood can bear, particularly as he

felt that he was running aground fast when he had the conversation to himself. He became quite furious, and, after two or three efforts started up, and made a rush towards his wooden adversary; but the great slipperiness of the ground laid him on the flat of his back. This gave time, so that several interfered, and peace was made; but the harmony of the night was destroyed. At last, Jack Shea swore they must have something to eat; damn him but he was starved with drink, and he must get some rashers somewhere or other. Every one declared the same; and Paddy was ordered to cook some griskins forthwith. Paddy was completely nonplused: all the provisions were gone, and yet his guests were not to be trifled with. He made a hundred excuses-" "Twas late-'twas dry nowand there was nothing in the house; sure they ate and drank enough." But all in vain. The ould sinner was threatened with instant death if he delayed. So Paddy called a council of war in the parlour, consisting of his wife and himself.

66 Agrah, Jillen, agrah, what will we do with these? Is there any meat in the tub? Where is the tongue? If it was yours, Jillen, we'd give them enough of it; but I mane the cow's," (aside.)

"Sure the proctors got the tongue ere yesterday, and you know there an't a bit in the tub. Oh the murtherin villains! and I'll engage 'twill be no good for us, after all my white bread and the whisky. That it may poison 'em!"

"Amen! Jillen; but don't curse them. After all, where's the meat? I'm sure that Andy will kill me if we don't make it out any how; and he hasn't a penny to pay for it. You could drive the mail coach, Jillen, through his breeches pocket without jolting over a ha'penny. Coming; coming; d'ye hear 'em?"

"Oh, they'll murther us. Sure if we had any of the tripe I sent yesterday to the gauger."

"Eh! What's that you say? I declare to God here's Andy getting up. We must do something. Thonom an dhiaoul, I have it. Jillen, run and bring me the leather breeches; run woman, alive! Where's the block and the hatchet? Go up and tell 'em you're putting down the pot."

Jillen pacified the uproar in the kitchen by loud promises, and returned to Paddy. The use of the leather breeches passed her comprehension; but Paddy actually took up the leather breeches,

tore away the lining with great care, chopped the leather with the hatchet on the block, and put it into the pot as tripes. Considering the situation in which Andy and his friends were, and the appetite of the Irish peasantry for meat in any shape a bone" being their summum bonum the risk was very little. If discovered, however, Paddy's safety was much worse than doubtful, as no people in the world have a greater horror of any unusual food. One of the most deadly modes of revenge they can employ is to give an enemy cat or dog's flesh; and there have been instances where the persons who have eaten it, on being informed of the fact, have gone mad. But Paddy's habit of practical jokes, from which nothing could wean him, and his anger at their conduct, along with the fear he was in, did not allow him to hesitate a moment. Jillen remonstrated in vain. "Hould your tongue, you foolish woman. They're all as blind as the pig there. They'll never find it out. Bad luck to 'em too, my leather breeches! that I gave a pound note and a hog for in Cork. See how nothing else would satisfy 'em!" The meat at length was ready. Paddy drowned it in butter, threw out the potatoes on the table, and served it up smoking hot with the greatest gravity.

"By J," says Jack Shea, "that's fine stuff. How a man would dig a trench after that."

"I'll take a priest's oath," answered Tom Cohill, the most irritable of men, but whose temper was something softened by the rich steam;-

"Yet, Tim, what's a priest's oath? I never heard that."

"Why, sure, every one knows you didn't ever hear of anything of good."

"I say you lie, Tim, you rascal." Tim was on his legs in a few moments, and a general battle was about to begin; but the appetite was too strong, and the quarrel was settled; Tim having been appeased by being allowed to explain a priest's oath. According to him, a priest's oath was this-He was surrounded by books, which were gradually piled up until they reached his lips. He then kissed the uppermost, and swore by all to the bottom. As soon as the admiration excited by his explanation, in those who were capable of hearing Tim, had ceased, all fell to work; and certainly, if the tripes had been of ordinary texture, drunk as was the party, they would soon have disappeared. After

gnawing at them for some time, "Well says Owen Connor, "that I mightn't!— but these are the quarest tripes I ever ate. It must be she was very ould."

"By J," says Andy, taking a piece from his mouth to which he had been paying his addresses for the last half hour, "I'd as soon be eating leather. She was a bull, man; I can't find the soft end at all of it."

"And that's true for you, Andy," said the man of the gun; "and 'tis the greatest shame they hadn't a bull-bait to make him tinder. Paddy, was it from Jack Clifford's bull you got 'em? They'd do for wadding, they're so tough."

"I'll tell you, Tim, where I got them 'twas out of Lord Shannon's great cow at Cork, the great fat cow that the Lord Mayor bought for the Lord Lieutenant - Asda churp naur hagusheh.*

"Amen, I pray God! Paddy. Out of Lord Shannon's cow? near the steeple, I suppose; the great cow that couldn't walk with tallow. By J—, these are fine tripes. They'll make a man very strong. Andy, give me two or three libbhers more of 'em."

"Well, see that! out of Lord Shannon's cow: I wonder what they gave her, Paddy. That I mightn't! but these would eat a pit of potatoes. Any how, they're good for the teeth. Paddy, what's the reason they send all the good mate from Cork to the Blacks?"

But before Paddy could answer this question, Andy, who had been endeavouring to help Tim, uttered a loud "Thonom an dhiaoul! what's this? Isn't this flannel?" The fact was, he had found a piece of the lining, which Paddy, in his hurry, had not removed; and all was confusion. Every eye was turned to Paddy; but with wonderful quickness he said, ""Tis the book tripe, agragal, don't you see?" — and actually persuaded them to it.

"Well, any how," says Tim, "it had the taste of wool."

"May this choke me," says Jack Shea, "if I didn't think that 'twas a piece of a leather breeches when I saw Andy chawing it."

This was a shot between wind and water to Paddy. His self-possession was nearly altogether lost, and he could do no more than turn it off by a faint laugh. But it jarred most unpleasantly on Andy's nerves. After looking at Paddy for some time with a very ominous look, he said, "Yirro Pandhrig of the tricks, if I thought you were going on with any work here, my soul and my * May it never come out of his body!

She weaves the golden web anew,
And if the muse be wanting;
The antiquary's day dream makes
The nameless heap enchanting.
Farewell then,-hall I may not say,
But, Hawksyard! fare thee well;
And thus, manorial phantom! hear,
In artless notes, thy knell!
There is a strength in honour's home,
A spell in valour's reign,
Beyond the power of time to touch,
Or ruin to profane.

And where soft charity hath dealt
Her blessings at the gate,

A thousand angels' viewless feet

The lone spot consecrate.

Years may transfer the fleeting crown
Of earthy pomp and pride;

But pale oblivion spares the site,
That virtue sanctified.

Sleep then the corn where pavements rang,
And not a shield survive;

The very ground itself asserts
A proud prerogative.

The solemn woods, the princely stream,
The blue heath's mighty verge,
Shall blend in high mysterious tale
Its annals and its dirge.

The spirits of its shrouded lords,
Shall brood majestic by!

Such ruins never can decay,
Such dead can never die!

ELEPHANT HUNTING IN

ABYSSINIA.

THE manner in which the Abyssinians kill the elephant is as follows:Two men, absolutely naked, mount a single horse; one has nothing in his hand but a switch or a short stick the which he uses to manage the horse; while his comrade, armed with a broad sword, sits patiently behind him. As soon as the elephant is discovered feeding, the horsemen ride before him, and crossing him in all directions, they each vauntingly exclaim-" I am such a man, and such a man; this is my horse, that has such a name; I killed your father in such a place, and your grandfather in such another place, and now I am come to kill you, who are but an ass in comparison to them!" This nonsense (which is used by the Abyssinians to almost every description of enemy) the man actually fancies is understood by this enormous animal, who, getting at last vexed and angry at being so pestered by a popinjay," rushes at the horse, following and turning after him, to endeavour to seize him with his trunk, or, by one blow with it, to level him with the dust. While he is thus occupied, the horseman suddenly wheels about, and then rapidly riding past the animal, the swordsman suddenly slips off and cuts the elephant's

tendon just above the heel of the hind leg. The horseman again wheels, and returning at full gallop, his companion vaults up behind him. The mischief being done, and the poor victim as it were tethered to the ground, the horsemen leave him to search for another of the herd, while a party on foot attack him with lances, and at last put an end to his sufferings and his life. One of the greatest dangers, in riding after the elephant, proceeds from the stumps of the trees which he breaks in forcing his way among them, and also from the young trees, which, bending without breaking, recoil with such violence, that they often have been known to dash both horse and rider to the ground; whereupon the elephant generally turns, and trampling on his tiny enemy, luxuriously tears "the lord of the creation" limb by limb to pieces. Besides this, the soil, like that of all hot countries during the dry season, is cracked and spilt into such deep chasms, that riding is attended with very great danger.

CUBA FISHERME N.

Continued from p. 39.

To my great joy and surprise, the poor dumb beast rose from where he had coiled himself at my feet, and after having actually embraced me, by putting his forepaws on my shoulders, as he stood on his hind legs, and licked my face from ear to ear, uttering a low, fondling, nuzzling sort of whine, like a nurse caressing a child, he at once leapt on the window sill, put his forepaws through the handkerchief, and was dropped to the ground again. I could immediately perceive the two dark figures of the pilot and his wife, followed by the dog, glide away as noiselessly as if they had been spirits of the night, until they were lost under the shade of the thick jungle.

I turned in, and-what will not youth and fatigue do?-I fell once more fast asleep, and never opened my eyes until Obed shook me in my cot about eight o'clock in the morning.

"Good morning, Lieutenant. I have sent up your breakfast, but you don't seem inclined to eat it."

"Don't you believe it, my dear Obed. I have been sound asleep till this moment; only stop till I have slipped on my-those shoes, if you please-thank you. Waistcoat-that will do. Now

-coffee, fish, yams, and plantains, and biscuit, white as snow, and short as and eggs-and-zounds! claret to finish with? Why, Obed, you surely don't desire that I should enjoy all these delicacies in solitary blessedness ?" "Why, I intend to breakfast with you, if my society be not disagreeable." Disagreeable? Not in the least, quite the contrary. That black grouper looks remarkably beautiful. Another piece of yam, if you please.-Shall I fill you a cup of coffee, Obed? For my own part, I always stow the ground tier of my cargo dry, and then take a topdressing. Write this down as an approved axiom with all thorough breakfast-eaters. Why, man, you are off your feed; what are you turning up your ear for, in that incomprehensible fashion, like a duck in thunder? A little of the claret -thank you. The very best butter I have ever eaten out of Ireland now, some of that Avocado pear- and as for biscuit, Leman never came up to it. I say, man, hillo, where are you?rouse ye out of your brown study, man." "Did you hear that, Mr. Cringle?" "Hear what?—I heard nothing,” rejoined I; "but hand me over that land crab.-Thank you, and you may send the spawl of that creeping thing along with it; that guana. I had a dislike to eating a lizard at first, but I have got over it somehow ; and a thin slice of ham, a small taste of the unclean beast, Obed-peach-fed, I'll warrant."

There was a pause. The report of a great gun came booming along, reverberated from side to side of the lagoon, the echoes growing shorter and shorter, and weaker and weaker, until they growled themselves asleep in a hollow rumble like distant thunder.

"Ha, ha! Dick Gasket for a thousand! Old Blowhard has stuck in your skirts, Master Obed-but Lord help us, man! lest us finish our breakfast; he won't be here this half hour."

I expected to see mine host's forehead lowering like a thunder cloud from my ill-timed funning; but to my surprise, his countenance exhibited more amenity than I thought had been in the nature of the beast, as he replied,

"Why, Lieutenant, the felucca put to sea last night, to keep a bright lookout at the mouth of our cove here. I suppose that is him overhauling some vessel."

"It may be so ;-hush! there's another gun-Two!"

Obed changed countenance at double report.

the

Is I say, Obed, the felucca did not carry more than one gun when 1 saw her, and she had no time to load and fire again."

He did not answer a word, but continued, with a piece of guana on the end of his fork in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, as if he had been touched by the wand of a magician. Presently we heard one or two dropping shots, quickly thickening into a rattle of musketry. He threw down his food, picked up his hat, and trundled down stairs, as if the devil had kicked him. "Pedro que hay," I could hear him say to some one below, who appeared to have arrived in great haste, for he gasped for breath

"Aqui viene la felucha," answered Pedro ; perseguido por dos Lanchas Canoneras llenas de Gente."

"Abordo entonces, Abordo todo el mundo, arma arma, aqui vienen los Engleses, arma, arma.'

And all from that instant was a regular hillabaloo. The drums on board the schooners beat to quarters, a great bell which had been slung on the fork of a tree, formerly the ornament of some goodly ship, no doubt, clanged away at a furious rate, the crews were hurrying to and fro, shouting to each other in Creole Spanish, and Yankee English, while every cannon-shot from the felucca or the boat guns came louder and louder, and the small arms peppered away sharper and sharper. The shouts of the men engaged, both friends and foes, were now heard, and I could hear Obed's voice on board the largest schooner, which lay full in view from my window, giving orders, not only to his own crew, but to those of the others. I heard him distinctly sing out, after ordering them to haul upon the spring on his cable, "Now, men, I need not tell you to fight bravely, for if you are taken every devil of you will be hanged, so hoist away the signal," and a small black ball flew up through the rigging, until it reached the maintopgallant-mast-head of the schooner, where it hung a moment, and in the next blew out in a large black swallow-tailed flag, like a commodore's broad pennant. "Now, shrieked he, " let me see who dares give in with this voucher for his honesty flying aloft !"

I twisted and craned myself out of the window, to get a view of what was going on elsewhere; however, I could see nothing but Obed's large schooner from it, all the other craft were out of the range of my eye, being hid by the