ous in water, but, turned on land, their nature is mild, 

 though a dangei ous animal to meet. The way he Is 

 ; taken is by pit-falls, which are covered over. The 

 Romans were acquainted Avith the Hippopotamus ; the 

 Emperor Augustus had one in his triumph over Cleo- 

 patra. He is the behemoth of Job, who admirably de- 

 scribes his manners, food, and liaunts — Behold now, 

 behemoth, he eateth grass like an ox ; now his strength 

 is in his horns ; his bones are strong , his teeth are 

 pieces of brass ; he lyeth under the shady trees in the 

 . covert of the rude fens ; behold, he drinketh up a river; 

 he can draw up Jordan into hi,s mouth." 



The British Museum Explained and Illustrated. 



CIIAI'TEFt II. THE LANDING-PLACE. 



Still lingering on the ground-floor, the eye rests upon 

 a most ingeniously executed specimen of Hindoo sculp- 

 ture, discovered on the banks of thesacred river Nerbudda. 

 which winds through the southern ]>ortion of Hindo.s- 

 tan to an extent of nearly 

 seven hundred miles. It most 

 probably formed a portion of 

 some ancient temple, many 

 having formerly been erected 

 on the margin of the Ner- 

 budda. This frragment sug- 

 gests at first view a strong 

 resc-mblance to the ancient 

 sculpture of the Egyptians ; 

 nor will tlie affinity "be less 

 apparent, when a closer exa- 

 mination is made. In the 

 edifices of both we find the i 

 prevalent use of colossal sta- 

 tues placed against piers or ' 

 walls ; sometimes closely attached to, or sculptured on 

 them, and which may therefore be considered quite as 

 much to form part of the general embellishment as spe- 

 cific objects of adoration. In both we find (as above) 

 caryatid figures usurping the place of columns, and, in- 

 deed, figures human and animal, enter as much into the 



