24 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



as such, a copy was requested by the faculty for 

 publication. An incident of this description clearly 

 indicated the superior attainments and abilities of 

 the newly-fledged -^Esculapius. 



Having thus entered the medical profession with 

 more than ordinary promise of success, Dr. Kane 

 obtained from the Secretary of the Navy permission 

 to undergo an examination for the post of surgeon. 

 The result, as might have been anticipated, was 

 favorable. "When Caleb Gushing sailed in May, 1843, 

 upon his diplomatic mission to China, Dr. Kane re- 

 ceived an appointment as one of the physicians to 

 the embassy. He was attached to the Brandywine, 

 commanded by Commodore Parker. The vessel 

 touched at Bombay, and was unexpectedly detained 

 there during some months in consequence of the 

 burning of the steamer Missouri. During this in- 

 terval the young traveller embraced the opportunity 

 to visit and examine the celebrated cavernous temples 

 of Elephanta. He also explored a portion of the 

 tropical island of Ceylon, and there revelled amid 

 the rarest scenes of Oriental adventure and travel. 



From Ceylon the embassy proceeded to Macao, 

 its ultimate destination in the Celestial Empire. 

 Half a year was employed in the tedious negotia- 

 tions which ensued between the American and the 

 Chinese plenipotentiaries; but Dr. Kane was in- 



