Costly ornaments of Eastern manufacture adorned the side tables, or were arranged on beautifully carved ivory brackets; while native Japanese paintings, encased in richest frames gave the _tout ensemble_ a decidedly oriental appearance. The picturesque delineations of the Jap, whose ideas of art were totally different from those of the Western world, made their paintings real curiosities to the English mind. These represented lovers in nearly all stages of the _grande passion_ seated in Japanese teahouses, or holding loving converse beneath the shade of luxurious trees, whose branches seemed to reach the deep blue skies. In another apartment portraits of great Eastern potentates, celebrated Hindus, and venerable Mahatmas gave the English visitor an idea of the former prestige of the Indian Empire. In the lady’s withdrawing-room containing the Japanese pictures, strains of sweetest music were set agoing at will, given apparently by a stringed band of automatic performers, made to imitate an orchestra of little men; who looked excruciatingly comic, as they moved their arms up and down, and waved about their funny little heads. The whole arrangement was set in motion by the same energy that gave heat to the apartments, conservatory, and cooking apparatus. In his ‘room of contemplation,’ or studio, was daily seated at stated hours the highly gifted Swami, surrounded by his ‘silent servants’—his books of Eastern lore. Tier upon tier of carved framework contained works from the most remote antiquity, dating backwards nearly four thousand years; and so on, through all the centuries, till quite up-to-date literature of the various epochs was represented. Rare manuscripts of the ancient Rig Veda, with plays, love stories, and fables, together with works on medicine, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and magic arts, all of very ancient date, filled the shelves of the library. While gorgeously-bound volumes of poetry, part of which were in the original Sanskrit, and part translated into English, were strewed on the elegantly designed coffee-tables, or stands, with which the drawing-room was furnished. Here is a graphic description of the drought in an Indian summer, taken from a poem by Kâlidhâsa, of great antiquity, entitled— _The Ritu-Sanhara, or, The Seasons._[1] ‘Now the burning summer sun Hath unchallenged empire won; And the scorching winds blow free Blighting every herb and tree. Should the longing exile try, Watching with a lover’s eye Well-remembered scenes to trace— Vainly would he scan the place, For the dust with shrouding veil Wraps it in a mantle pale.