THE PIC-NIC. 101 



bend in the river, and here we found a couple of 

 tents pitched, whilst hard by, on a green knoll, 

 shaded by a giant peepul-tree, was spread a table- 

 cloth covered with all the necessary accessories for 

 invigorating the system. In a few moments ele- 

 phants and horses were picketed under the trees 

 round about, the palanquins, etc., drawn up in 

 rows, and the party proceeded to examine this 

 strange natural phenomenon, which is caused by a 

 small stream flowing over a high shelving rock, 

 about sixty paces in length, of so porous a nature 

 as to allow the water to filter through and fall in a 

 perpetual shower. The under face of the rock is 

 covered with stalactites, and in a natural basin 

 below the water is collected, which the doctor dis- 

 covered to be strongly impregnated with sulphuretted 

 hydrogen. On the right of the rock is a large na- 

 tural grotto, filled with water to the depth of two 

 feet, and here the stalactites were very beautiful, 

 assuming the appearance of pillars and quaint 

 gothic arches supporting the roof The " assembly " 

 sounding on a key-bugle stopped several learned 

 dissertations and explanatory theories on this na- 



