only went to one theatre, and was placed in a side box where I could see nothing. The performance consisted, principally, of singing and dancing; and, it being uncommonly hot, I did not come away with a very favourable impression. On coming out, I turned the wrong way, and lost myself for a considerable time among the back streets, but by the direction of several persons I found my way to the Madeleine Church, which was my landmark, the hotel being close to it. This church is very chaste, being a copy of the classic Parthenon, of which a model may be seen in the British Museum. But the inside is too much ornamented with gold and tinsel to be grand. I went to hear the singing at this church one Sunday evening, and happened to be seated, as also were some others (the majority being standing), when the little fat priest descended from the pulpit, and came round, shaking his bag for contributions towards masses for the souls of the dead (or perhaps to help the living), and coming, at length, before me, whom he had eyed suspiciously for some time, he stopped suddenly, looking as cross as a priest well might without sinning, and requested me to stand up, or at least told me my position was not correct. thought it rather saucy, especially as I meant no disrespect to him or his church; but to prevent anything like a disturbance, I obeyed, as he was occompanied by a man wearing a cocked hat (which, considering where he was, I thought rather irreverent, not knowing then that church beadles, in France, always wear their hats during service), who bore a large staff of office. I had the pleasure of hearing my conduct criticised at the table d'hote next day, when the ladies, my countrywomen, declared that they would not have moved. However, I think I acted wisely. One great advantage to travellers on the Continent is, that these churches are always open, so that the curious in such matters, may, without any difficulty, enter and remain as long as they please. No hindrance will be offered if they behave themselves. The grandeur of solemn old Notre Dame may thus always be seen; but a trifle must be paid to ascend to the top.

I

I did not attend any of the balls, primarily because I do not dance; and, secondly, because I do not care about such amusements, when public.

I fear I did not make the best use of my time, as I might have seen much more, but as we were compelled to ride about in different parts of the old and new town, I knew as much, perhaps, as most visitors.

F. RAYNER.

A COQUETTE.-A coquette is fond of fancy for a moment-faithless for a year-fickle for ever-a painted doll-a glittering trifle-a feather-a toy-a bubble-a transitory pleasure-an eternal pain-an embodiment of absurdities-and a collection of contradictions.

THE BUFFALO AND THE TIGER.

No animal that ranges the earth presents a more wild and determined aspect or appearance than the buffalo; his carriage is that of disdain and defiance to every living object: placing a reliance on his own superior strength, he walks in consciousness that he shall be able to overthrow whatever may oppose his rage. He is, indeed, susceptible of rage to the highest degree, and, upon the slightest provocation, becomes irritated to a state that is incredible to those who have not witnessed it. His courage is unbounded, for he will frequently attack a group of elephants going for fodder. If a single wild buffalo be disturbed from wallowing in the mud, there is not in nature a more menacing animal. His looks are ferocious in the extreme, showing his brutal disposition in his countenance and eyes, to the terror of those who cross his path. Indeed, the whole race, whether wild or tame, have an eye full of mischief, and are never, on any occasion, to be trusted. Those which have been brought up to herd in a state of domesticity, always exhibit a certain peculiar degree of jealousy of strangers; and more especially of Europeans, whom they ever view with a suspicious glance, and very often attack unceremoniously; that is, without giving any previous notice of their intention. India, probably through the injudicious treatment when young, all the cattle have a similar propensity; a disposition which is increased by their being so little accustomed so see persons wearing habiliments, their attendants, being Indians, going almost naked. In a country like India, the contrast is strong between the sable skin of the natives and the white dresses of our countrymen, to suit the sultry climate. Buffaloes are capable of bearing intense heat without annoyance, and during the day wallow in stagnate, muddy pools, which are never wanting in the vicinity of Bengal towns.

In

During the hottest months in this climate, large herds of buffaloes are grazed during the night only. The gevanlahs, or aheers, are castes or sects who are confined in the employment or avocation of tending cattle; these men have always a favourite beast, which they mount, and then drive the whole herd into the woods, where they pass the night in the midst of opaque, gloomy covers, in which tigers, perhaps, abound; but custom or habit makes them do this without fear or apprehension of danger. Sometimes a sort of wooden bell is suspended round the neck of one of the herd, which by its sound keeps the whole body compact; at least, sufficiently so to be collected together with ease at the dawn of day, when the task of driving them to the pools commences, where they remain with little exception, immersed until the cool of the afternoon; when having slept in the water or mud, they are driven, as before, to their feeding haunts.

Buffaloes, like elephants, scent a tiger with great acuteness of sense;

and when they do, communicate the alarm to the whole herd, by their snorting and agitation. If a calf should straggle or stray, it, of course, runs great risk of being carried off; but if the mother hears her little one's blatant voice, or suspects that it is in danger, nothing can exceed her concern and uneasiness for her offspring. When the signal of danger is given to the whole herd, no time is lost in attacking the wily and desperate marauder. Even a buffalo will not hesitate, under such circumstances, to attack a tiger: from this the reader may form some idea of the spirited impetuosity with which a herd proceed to and execute a charge.

In these cases the herdsmen remain passive, in conscious security, so long as they can remain with the cattle; those who deviate from the common track of prudence must take the consequences. Few accidents, however, happen; the herdsmen generally remain seated on their buffaloes, driving them to the most luxuriant feed; and, by their calls, keeping all within their proper bounds.

The great men-that is, the nabobs and soubahs of all ranks, (for there are many degrees of importance among them, though each deems himself of the highest importance), at particular times, and especially at the anniversaries of some of their entertainments. At these everything rare and attractive is to be seen. In situations where tigers can be obtained they are opposed to buffaloes, or elephants, or 'animals.

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As amusement would cease to be so were it attended with danger, in such conflicts every precaution is to inclose an area of sufficient strength for the exhibition, so as to obviate all reasonable fear, without obstructing the view of the combat. When a tiger is of the dramatis persona it is absolutely necessary to use great caution; for there have been instances of their effecting an escape, and putting all the spectators to the rout.

The theatres are generally constructed very high, so as to banish all apprehension of danger on this head, still the tiger never fails to make desperate efforts to leap or scramble over, and, at times, excites alarm by his appearing likely to succeed. When this happens, and he is in the act of climbing, he is, of course, easily repelled; for which purpose men are placed along the top with poles, in such places of the pales or barricade as may be least elevated, where they easily turn him back into the area. The space for the exhibition is usually about 40 yards in diameter, of a round or oval form, and surrounded either with large posts or bamboos, as may be most easily obtained: but in every case they must be of sufficient height to prevent a tiger escaping. All battens to bind the work should be outside, else they would greatly facilitate a tiger's escape, From fifteen to twenty feet is a sufficient height, especially if the enclosure be made of bamboo, the bark of which is extremely hard and slippery, like that of a fine walking-cane; and consequently well adapted to oppose the force of his claws, which might fix in softer wood and enable the animal to reach the summit.

The spectators are seated in a gallery raised high enough to command a full view of the drama, and are protected from the sun, &c., by a seminana, or large awning, sustained on poles.

That a tiger should be anxious to avail himself of the partial release he feels, when let into the area to patrol about, is very natural; but it is found, that generally his efforts to escape are not commenced until his courage is overawed by the presence of the buffalo, which, being pampered with the highest feeding for this express purpose, and, perhaps, conscious of his own prowess, from repeated victories, enters the lists with the utmost confidence, and the very reverse of the tiger; which, for the most part, shows marked symptoms of fear, and has recourse to every expedient to avoid an issue he seems from the first to forbode. Exceptions are at times found from this general statement: there have been a few instances wherein the tiger has been successful; but these are very uncommon, and may be attributed to some accident, or to the neglect of keeping the buffalo in a proper state of feeding, more than to the tiger's prowess.

Persons unacquainted with the true character of the tiger would expect him to attack the buffalo as soon as he might enter the area. But no: as soon as the buffalo makes his appearance, the tiger, which perhaps till then does not betray any marked apprehension, or, probably, seems to menace the spectators, swelling his fur and showing his teeth, or occasionally snarling and lashing his sides with his tail, all at once sinks into the most contemptible despondency. He sneaks along the palisade, crouching and turning his back to avoid the buffalo's charge. He tries every device his situation will admit, and often suffers himself to be gored, or lifted from his pusillanimous lurking, by the buffalo's horn, before he can be induced to stand on the defensive. When, however, he does, on such occasions, summon up courage to oppose the assailant, he displays wonderful power and activity. His claws are distended, and wherever they touch they fail not to draw blood; actuating the buffalo to the most desperate efforts, but which are not of long duration. The immense strength of the tiger lies in his fore-arm, and would prove fatal to the buffalo if there were opportunity given for the blow to take proper effect. The buffalo, being on his guard, avoids too close an engagement; but, ever keeping a front to his opponent, rushes towards him with his whole force, and recedes with surprising celerity, as soon as the tiger shows his intention to strike. Sometimes the tiger will follow, and make a desperate spring, which, however, the buffalo either avoids, by rapidly shifting his ground, or at the same moment, darting forward, meets the tiger with his horns. There are instances on such occasions of the tiger springing over the buffalo's back, causing the combatants to change places, and affording to the buffalo an excellent chance of transfixing the tiger before he could recover from the fall invariably attendant on such circumstances.

Nothing can well exceed the interest excited in the mind of spectators when the tiger and the buffalo are mutually bent on resistance.

But the former does not in general follow up his success with sufficient spirit; while, on the other hand, the buffalo pushes his opponent to the extreme. The tiger seems to be contented with a cessation of arms; but the buffalo carries on a war of extermination. It is to be

observed, that the buffaloes trained to this sport are males of the domestic breed: they are selected for their size, vigour, and spirit. A wild buffalo is very rarely brought into competition with a tiger, yet, if he were, his superior strength could not fail to decide the contest in a very short time.

Perhaps, it may hereafter be ascertained that the wild buffaloes destroy such tigers as may chance to come near their herds. This they could assuredly do with ease, as they generally keep to grass plains; where, if a tiger were once seen, a buffalo would have every advantage, and might make sure of the victory.

It sometimes requires considerable trouble and time to effect the desired rencontre between the buffalo and the tiger. The former must be kept away, until the latter may have entered the area; for it is found that the tiger, on smelling or seeing the buffalo, remains close in his cage, notwithstanding the efforts made to dislodge him.

The cage is about ten feet long by seven or eight broad, and from five to six in height, made of strong battens well inserted into a substantial frame. Some are divided in the middle, to enable the keeper to go in to clean the refuse and filth away. At each end is a sliding door, or as many bars are made to shift as, when removed, form a sufficient opening to admit the tiger. The centre partition, which is also of open batten work, has a slider, moving in a groove, for the same purpose. The machine, ordinarily, is made to stand upon four trucks; so that it may be moved from place to place at pleasure.

The cage being brought opposite to a very strong gate made in the palisades surrounding the area, of sufficient size to admit any animal that may be usually induced to fight; and some ropes being fastened to prevent any recoil, from the tiger's opposition at the entrance, the door is opened, and the tiger goaded towards the aperture. Some avail themselves instantaneously of the opportunity to roam more at large; but the major part, with that peculiar aim of suspicion and sulkiness, so strongly marked in the whole race, from the tiger to the cat, hang backwards, and have recourse to every device to avoid that danger, which one would almost believe they had the gift of foretelling. As, however, such cannot be the case, we must conclude that their alarm is generated by the noise and bustle attendant on such spectacles. The crowd, in spite of every precaution, flock round the cage, and absolutely, by their pressure, prevent the person employed, from performing his duty of liberating the tiger. When all authority has proved abortive, a sudden alarm has, in some instances, proved successful. A rumour that the cage has given way, and that the tiger is about to effect his escape, in a moment puts all the rabble to flight.