The horses, with three elephants, two with howdahs on their backs, and the other loaded with a large tent, were now paraded before the door; each horse was attended by his syce, or groom, who never quitted him, but fanned away the flies with a chowry, or whisk, formed of a horse's tail. They were beautiful animals, but much too spirited for some of the party, who felt alarm at the very anticipation of the difficulty they would have in retaining their seats. Prose, who had never been twice in his life on the back of any animal, was in sad trepidation; he looked first at the horses, who were plunging and rearing in the hands of the syces, who could with difficulty restrain their impatience, and then at the elephants, whose stupendous size, flourishing probosces, projecting tusks, and small, keen eyes, equally filled him with dismay. "I do declare," observed Prose, affecting an extra limp, "my leg is very bad. I think." "Come, come, Mr Prose, no hauling off; no leg-bail, if you please," said Courtenay, who, with Seymour, was already mounted, upon a spirited Arabian; "take your choice--but go you must." "Well, then, if I must, which would you advise me to take?" "Take a horse," said Seymour, laughing; "of two evils always choose the least." "Take an elephant, Mr Prose," cried Courtenay; "his size is double, but he'll give you less trouble." "Why, that's a rhyme, I do declare; but how shall I get upon his back?" "Oh! he'll take you up in his trunk, and put you on." "Indeed he shall not," cried Prose, retreating some paces; "I say, Mr Interpreter, how am I to get on the top of that great beast?" "As you please, sar. Suppose you like get up before, he lift up his leg for you to climb up. Suppose you like to get up behind, he not say nothing. Suppose you wish go up his middle, you ab ladder." "Well, then, Mr Interpreter, I shall feel very much obliged to you for a ladder." A ladder was brought. Prose, and Macallan, with his implements, ascended to the howdah, fixed on the back of the enormous brute. The remainder of the party being ready, they set off; accompanied by the deputy, the interpreter, and several other handsomely attired natives, who, out of compliment to the officers, had been ordered to attend them. The country, like most parts of India near to the coast, consisted of paddy or rice fields, under water, diversified with intersecting patches of jungle and high trees. Occasionally they passed a deeper pool, where the buffaloes, with only their horns and tips of their noses to be seen, lay, with the whole of their enormous carcasses hid under the muddy water, to defend themselves from the attacks of the mosquitoes, and the powerful rays of the sun. "Look at the buffaloes, Prose." "Where, Seymour? I can't see any. I never saw a buffalo in my life. It's like an ox, an't it?" "It's very like a whale," replied Courtenay.