ents of an ancient city;
the ground in many spots was literally coloured red by the masses of
brick crumbled into dust, while around I saw scattered in vast
quantities large and massive columns, which once must have formed a
support to innumerable temples, palaces, and public buildings of various
sorts. Many parts of the ruins were completely overgrown with jungle.
I was forcing my way through it, when I saw at a little distance, partly
concealed by the foliage, a large elephant. I thought that he appeared
to be standing listening to ascertain in what direction I was coming.

"An undoubted rogue," I said to myself, examining my rifle to ascertain
that the caps were on, and to be ready to fire should he attack me. I
signed to Solon to keep close at my heels, and approached the monster
cautiously. It was just the place where I might expect to meet with a
perfect rogue. I crept on slowly. I was surprised to find that Solon
took no notice of the elephant, though he kept, as I ordered him, close
behind me. The elephant did not move. I got nearer and nearer. There
he stood, ready, it seemed, to make a rush at me. I expected to see him
lift up his trunk and commence the assault; but he did not make the
slightest movement that I could perceive. To be sure he was
considerably hidden by the foliage. Perhaps he might be asleep.
Elephants do sleep standing. That I knew. He might have been stamping
with his feet, or cocking up his ears, for very frequently, as I
advanced, he was almost entirely concealed by the thick bushes. I had
got within twenty paces of the monster, when, obtaining a clearer view
than before, I was struck by the unusual colour of the hide. Still
nearer I got. Surely an ear was wanting, and the trunk was of a very
odd shape. In another minute I was indulging in a hearty fit of
laughter, as I found myself standing close under the elephant. No
wonder it did not move, nor had it for many hundred years, for it was
carved, though roughly, out of a mass of stone; there it stood--a beast
of great size and excellent workmanship; and further on were fragments
of other elephants and bulls, as also of pedestals and stone sarcophagi,
covered with the most grotesque human figures, and many other curious
designs.

Wandering on for some distance, and passing all sorts of ruins, and
figures, and pillars, I came to what I took to be a lofty circular hill
covered with shrubs. On getting nearer, I found a terra