hand; he felt to the left, to the right, but nothing could he discover. In despair, he was about to cover up the place, when he remembered the dying words of the Gosein to himself, and searching more minutely to the right hand of the stone receptacle, discoverd the niche, in which was suspended on a nail, a small key of curious workmanship, which with avidity he grasped. Ismael doubted not, but that notwithstanding all his expedition the Gosein's friend had been beforehand with him and secured the box, which he still hoped would one day be his.

Ismael, vexed and disappointed, returned to his boat, desiring the fishermen to row hard to Bombay, which they accordingly did, and landed the Jew in safety. The Jew's wife had been anxiously looking out for his arrival, and when she perceived his haggard look and care-worn countenance, expressed her alarm lest he had failed in his speculations, or been robbed on his way home. Ismael assured her all had gone well, declared he was much fatigued by his journey (and well he might be), and desired her to prepare his bed and a cup of coffee directly. Vexation and disappointment effectually banished sleep from Ismael's eyes, and symptoms of fever greatly alarmed him; he took an opiate, which, however, instead of lulling his tortured brain, had a direct opposite effect, and he was seized with a delirium bordering upon madness.

A brother Jew, called a doctor, visited poor Ismael, and administered first one drug and then another without effect. The patient raved incessantly; his imagination seemed to dwell on some scene of horror which he, it was supposed, had witnessed in his traveis; he spoke of the dying Gosein, cursed his friend for stealing money, then burst into a hysteric laugh, and sunk,

overcome with the violent exertion. Many long days and tedious nights did Ismael pass, stretched on his bed of sickness, and long was it ere the fever left him: that he ever recovered was to his neighbours, who had witnessed his sad state, most extraordinary.

When completely recovered, Ismael, far from giving up all idea of the iron box, determined to become possessed of it. The first step towards the accomplishment of his wishes, was to ascertain in whose possession it was; and the second, a very material point ere he could reap any benefit from the contents of it, to learn the language in which the Book of Knowledge was written. That it was Sanscrit he had heard the Gosein declare, but he was utterly ignorant of this language, sacred alone to the Brahmins and religious and learned Hindús. That ignorance should not exclude him from the acquirement of wealth, the Jew, long ere he busied himself to discover who possessed the book, commenced the study of the Sanscrit language, to which he devoted one entire year, and with such earnestness did he prosecute his studies, that at the expiration of that period he could decipher the most ancient and difficult writings in that learned tongue. For some time he could gain not the slightest clue to direct him how to discover the possessor of the wished-for Book of Knowledge.

When, however, the public curiosity became excited respecting the unaccountable manner of living of Donga Sette Brahmin, notwithstanding every species of tyranny had been practised on him by the Portuguese Government-his lands sequestrated, his trees cut down, and every visible mode of living denied him— Ismael entertained a strong suspicion this man possessed the

Book of Knowledge, that grand key to inexhaustible wealth. In order that he might himself be certified of this fact, the Jew proposed to the Governor the searching for treasure in the Brahmin's house, not with any idea the crafty Brahmin would be so imprudent in these times as to bury gold in any part of the house, but because he, accompanying the searchers, would have an opportunity (otherwise impossible to have obtained) of ascertaining whether his suspicions respecting the iron box were well or ill founded.

Ismael, during the search for money, anxiously cast around his eyes to discover the longed-for box, which he determined to secretly possess himself of. The Brahmin's retiring to the outer verandah during the search afforded him a golden opportunity to carry his plan into execution. In the centre of the Brahmin's house stood his great idol, Gunputty, with the elephant's head; and at its feet, to Ismael's joy, was a small iron box, which with avidity he pounced upon, but was again doomed to be disappointed. It was chained by a chain of steel, and secured by a strong padlock to the idol's leg. One point was only gained : Donga Sette was in truth the possessor of the Book of Knowledge; and Ismael, pleased by the acquisition of this first step towards gaining it himself, left the Brahmin with a mock reverence and significant movement of the eye, as has been already related.

The Governor's demand for an instant supply of money, much to the Jew's discomfiture, for the present interrupted his plans; and with the golden harvest in view, his concern at finding himself sinking in mud, death staring him in the face, and no help at hand, may easily be conceived.

CHAPTER VI.

THE COPPERSMITH'S STORY (continued).

EARLY in the morning the two travellers arose, each to pursue his respective route. The Jew, however, seeing his friend—a fine, handsome, active young Mahommedan-felt somewhat curious to learn the cause of his grief, which he had expressed on the preceding night by sobs and lamentations. Ere they parted, therefore, Ismael, with a pretended display of fellow-feeling and compassion, enquired what could have caused him so much distress ; and further, to induce his companion to be communicative, hinted his readiness and desire to render him any assistance in his power. The young man, without hesitation, gave the following account of himself:

'My name is Alnusur; my father was a respectable merchant, residing at Cambay; I was his only son, and he indulged me in all I could wish or desire. The great object of my father was that I should marry, and become steady and attentive to business. To this I could offer no objection, but stipulated that the woman should meet my approbation in every respect, and that unless she possessed great beauty I would never consent to wed. My father in vain preached to me of the advantages to be derived

from the beauty of the mind, not the person; I shook my head and adhered firmly to my determination. The reason why I thus stipulated was because I strongly suspected my father had his eye upon the daughter of a great friend of his, who happened to be my particular aversion, both on account of her excessive ugliness and incorrigible temper.

'I was ruminating on matrimony, when a palanquin, with its curtains closely drawn, attended by several servants, passed close by me. I learned from the bystanders the sedan contained the beautiful Zaide, daughter of the Deewan and prime minister of his highness the Nuwab. "What would I give," thought I, “to gain a sight of this lovely creature, of whose beauty report speaks so highly!" Scarcely had I allowed this idea to skim through my brain, ere the litter, which I had kept my eye firmly fixed upon, by some accountable accident broke down. I rushed to the lady's aid, and sedulously kept aloof the officious and inquisitive bystanders. The attendants, indeed, were equally assiduous in their attempts to drive me from the broken litter; but with great perseverance, and by evincing the greatest anxiety for the lady's safety, I was suffered to assist in raising her, and was rewarded by a sweet smile from the too lovely Zaide.

'I suggested she should enter a house until I could procure another palanquin, as it was impossible to make use again of the broken one, and equally so for her to walk through the streets. Zaide assented to the plan; and having seen her safely lodged in a respectable merchant's house, I ran quickly to the nearest place where I knew a palanquin was to be had. The bearers followed