"We went into several Hindoo temples, where sacred cows and bulls were walking about as though Benares belonged to them, which it really does. They are respected and worshipped by the people and never molested, and the result is they go around as they like, and help themselves wherever there is anything to eat. The merchants of grain, rice, and meal find them a great nuisance, as nothing can be left in their reach that they do not seize upon immediately; it must shake the faith of the merchants sometimes when they think what thieves their gods are, as represented by these prowling cattle, and how ready they are to rob anybody without regard to his wealth or poverty. "We got back to the hotel in time for a late breakfast, and in the afternoon made an excursion to the temple of the goddess Durga, which is popularly known as the temple of the monkeys. There were hundreds of monkeys all around the temple, and they are regarded as gods in spite of their thievery and the trouble they cause in the neighborhood. As we came up to the temple the monkeys scampered toward us from every direction, as they know that the arrival of strangers is pretty certain to procure them something to eat. Two or three grain peddlers were near the front of the temple, and we bought a shilling's worth of grain, which was scattered on the pavement for the monkeys to eat. They fought over it in a very undignified way, which did not increase our respect for them, and as soon as they found they would get nothing more they clambered to the tree-tops or up on the roofs, where they had been sunning themselves. "These monkeys do a great deal of mischief, by robbing gardens and other depredations, and we are told that they organize raids, and sometimes go two or three miles in bodies of fifty or a hundred for purposes of robbery. They became so bad a few years ago that one of the magistrates, who did not wish to offend the natives by killing their deities, had a great number of these monkeys put into cages and carried off to the jungle; but they seem to be about as numerous as ever, and quite as regardless of the rights of human beings as monkeys generally are. "Doctor Bronson had a letter of introduction to Doctor Lazarus, the agent of the Maharajah of Vizanagram, a native prince who owns a very large estate in and around Benares. The maharajah is on pleasant terms with the English, and with all foreigners who come properly introduced, and likes to show them attentions. We called on Doctor Lazarus before going to the Durga temple, and had a pleasant interview with him; and after we had seen the temple we went to the palace of the maharajah and looked through it. The next morning the Doctor sent us an elephant for a ride through Benares, and we had a delightful excursion of a couple of hours. [Illustration: AN ELEPHANT RIDE.]