eplied
to Captain M---.

"He say no, sar. Little people, like you and me, write letter very
quick, all in one minute. Great people, like king and queen, not
possible write letter less than week or ten day. Not fashion this
country, sar."

The presents being placed in the boat, and the letter presented on a
silver salver, the deputy made a low salaam, and departed. Captain
M---, aware that all attempts to hasten them would be useless, made no
further remarks on the subject. The next morning the same grave
personage came on board, attended by the interpreter and his suite, with
many compliments from their royal mistress, who had sent a present for
the captain. During the time of the delivery and interpretation of the
message, the natives, who rowed in his boat, handed up a large black
monkey, with a long white beard extending over his chin and shoulders.
The animal, who did not seem well pleased with his change of situation,
and who was naturally of a vicious temperament, flew round and round the
length of his tether, catching at the trousers of the sailors with his
paws and teeth, and using the latter without the least ceremony.

"Queen say, sar--Many compliments, and tell you it very _high caste_
monkey--very _high caste_, indeed, sar,--very fine present, sar."

"It may be," observed Captain M--- to the first-lieutenant; "but I wish
she had saved herself the trouble. I must not refuse it; and what can
we do with the brute?"

"It will amuse the men, sir; he seems to have plenty of devil in him."

"Oh!" roared Prose, "I do declare he has bit a piece out of my leg.
High caste, indeed. I should like to give him a _high cast_ overboard."

"Really, Prose, that's not so bad," observed Seymour. "Jerry was
correct in his assertion that you had plenty of wit, only it required
strong measures to extract it from you."

"Queen say, sar, write letter in five or six days, and say, suppose
Captain Saib and officers come on shore, order everybody go hunt tiger:
Queen tell people make everything proper. Very fine tiger hunt, sar."

Captain M---, who was convinced that he must patiently await their own
time, did not expostulate at the delay. Not wishing to avail himself of
the offer, he requested the officers would consider themselves at
liberty to accept the invitation, which was intended as a compliment,
and therefore ought not to be refused.

A large party was formed, who, on the ensuing day, accompanied by the
d