A KUX THROUGH KATHIAWAR. 295 



by poising themselves against the wind, and could 

 make long sweeps by almost a single flap of their 

 wings. I cannot help thinking that the " flying 

 man " who was killed at London two years ago was 

 in the right way of solving the problem of aerial 

 travel ; and that a careful study of the habits of the 

 heavier predatory birds, together with an adoption 

 of mechanical means and the use of compressed air, 

 will enable our children or grandchildren to rival the 

 flying feats of the fabulous Wilkins family and of 

 the late Lord Lytton's charming Coming Eace. 



Before introducing my readers to the Jain temples 

 of Girnar, I must say a word about the Jains or 

 Jaina themselves, because, though that sect is well 

 known to scholars, it has not yet attracted much 

 attention in the polite circles of Europe. I am my- 

 self something more than a Jain, being even a Jina : 

 that is to say, a very ancient Jain priest, who must 

 have been over a hundred years old, once took a 

 singular fancy to me, gave me a heavy silver ring 

 with mystic characters engraved upon it, and ex- 

 pressed his belief that I would turn out to be the 

 twenty-fifth Tirthankara, for which all the world was 

 waiting ; b"ut not having yet got quite through even 

 the preliminary stages of the asceticism necessary in 

 order to reach that distinguished position, I must not 

 be taken as an authoritative expositor. Far less do 

 I claim to have attained to that " real and supreme 

 wisdom which is infinite in its subjects, incomparable 



