his
reasons, he desired the interpreter to order the elephant to stop.

"Suppose gentleman want stones, elephant give them," replied the
interpreter; "no occasion for Saib to get off;" and explaining the
doctor's wishes to the conductor of the elephant, the knowledge of which
occasioned a laugh among the natives, who could not conceive why the
doctor should want the stones, he continued, "Now, sar, you point any
stone you want."

The doctor did so; and the conductor, speaking to the elephant, the
proboscis of the sagacious animal immediately handed up the one pointed
out, to his conductor, who passed it to Macallan.

For more than an hour the doctor amused himself with breaking and
examining the different specimens presented to him, until he passed by
an isolated mass, whose component parts, glittering in the sun, made him
anxious to obtain a specimen. It was a large rock, about the size of
six elephants, and the doctor pointed to it.

"Ah, sar!" interrupted the interpreter; "elephant very strong beast, but
no lift that."

"I did not imagine that he would, but I must dismount to examine it,"
replied Macallan, gravely, who was absorbed in his scientific pursuits.

The elephant stopped; and the doctor, not aware of the great height,
attempted to slip down his side; he succeeded in reaching the ground,
not exactly on his feet, to the great amusement of the party.
Regardless of trifles, when in pursuit of science, he desired Prose to
throw him down his bag of implements, and proceeded to the object of his
investigation, which appeared to him so peculiar, that he requested the
others to continue their excursion, and leave him to be picked up on
their return.

"Ah, massa! like stop this place?" said the interpreter.

"Yes," replied the doctor.

"Do you really intend to remain here?" inquired Courtenay.

"I do: it is a very remarkable specimen of cinnamon-stone, and I must
procure some of it if possible."

"Well, I do declare!" said Prose: "I thought cinnamon grew upon trees.
Doctor, I should like to stay with you, for this beast does shake me so,
I'm quite sore--and I've such a stitch in my side."

Prose accordingly prepared to descend, and was recommended by the
interpreter to slide down by the hind leg of the animal.

"He won't kick, will he?"

"Elephant no kick, sar," and Prose descended in safety, while the
remainder of the party continued their excursion.

The doctor walked several times round the roc