THE Cayman is only another name for the crocodile or alligator. They may not be just alike, but they are all found in the rivers and lakes and pools of hot countries.

Mr. Henry W. Bates, in his book of eleven years travel in South America, tells many curious tales about the Indians who live on the banks of the great river Amazon, and about the animals of that country. He tells us that there are thousands of Cayman in the rivers, but he says that the people don't care for them, though their mouths are so large and their teeth so many and strong that they would bite a man's leg in two at one snap. One day he went with a party of Indians to catch turtles with nets. When they drew one of the nets together they found that there was a Cayman in it. Instead of getting out of the way they began to laugh and jump, naked as they were, into the water, with their clubs, to have some fun with it. First one shouted, "I have touched his head;" another, "he has scratched my leg." One man was knocked down, and then there was great shouting and laughing. At last a lad of fourteen laid hold of the monster with both his arms round its tail, while others beat him about the head, and then they dragged him through the

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

mud to the bank where Mr. Bates stood, who, with one blow of a heavy club on the crown of his head killed him.

These Indians seem to think it fine fun to catch a Cayman, but I don't think you would like such sport. But they know that though the creature is very savage it is a great coward, and is frighted when many of them attack it, and make a great noise. But let a Cayman find one of these Indian boys in the water by himself, and he would soon lay hold of him and drag him under the water and eat him up. Better far keep out of the way of all such fierce and cruel creatures. It is our duty to do so, and we are only safe when we do. Never go in the way of any danger if you can help it. Don't forget the old saying, "Look before you leap."

Anecdotes and Selections.

MOSES' LAST LOOK.-The end was at last come. It might still have seemed that a triumphant close was in store for the aged prophet. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. He had led his people to victory against the Amorite kings; he might still be expected to lead them over into the land of Canaan. But so it was not to be. From the desert plains of Moab he went up to the same lofty range whence Balaam had looked over the same prospect. The same, but seen with eyes how different! The view of Balaam has been long forgotten; but the view of Moses has become the proverbial view of all time. It was the peak dedicated to Nebo on which he stood. He lifted up his eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward. Beneath him lay the tents of Israel ready for the march; and over against them, distinctly visible in its grove of palmtrees, the stately Jericho, key of the Land of Promise. Beyond was spread out the whole range of the mountains of Palestine, in its fourfold masses; all Gilead, with Hermon and Lebanon in the east and north; the hills of Galilee, overhanging the lake of Gennesaret; the wide opening where lay the plain of Esdraelon, the future battle-field of the nations; the rounded summits of Ebal and Gerizim; immediately in front of him the hills of Judea, and amidst them, seen distinctly through the rents in their rocky walls, Bethlehem on its narrow ridge, and the invincible fortress of Jebus. To him, so far as we know, the charm of that view lay in the assurance that this was the land promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and to their seed-the inheritance, with all its varied features of rock and pasture, and forest and desert, for the sake of which he had borne so many years of toil and danger, in the midst of which the fortunes of his people would be unfolded worthily of that great beginning. To us, as we place ourselves by his side, the view swells into colossal proportions, as we think how the proud city of palm-trees is to fall before the hosts of Israel; how the spear of Joshua is to be planted on height after height of those hostile mountains. All this he saw. He saw it with his eyes, but he was not to go over thither. It was his last view.-Dean Stanley.

ANECDOTE OF SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.B.-On one occasion whilst we were off Cephalonia it was very hot, and there was a dead calm;

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

some of the sailors were working on the yards, whilst the captain and I were reading in the cabin; all the windows were open astern, and suddenly we heard a great splash. In an instant I saw the captain jump out of the window into the sea. I was alarmed, not knowing what was the matter, and rang for the sentry who guards the door of the captain's cabin. I told him to call the officers, and whilst speaking heard more plunges. I ran on deck, and found several of the officers and crew had jumped into the sea after the captain. Life-preservers and boats were immediately lowered; the whole occupied very few minutes, and there was no noise nor confusion. I was so terrified that for a while I lost my power of speech, and stood aghast on deck, not knowing what to think. A strange idea crossed my mind that they were suddenly "possessed," and I thought of the miracle of the swine, and the unclean spirits hurling them into the sea. Soon I was reassured by the second lieutenant telling me that a sailor working on the mainyard fell into the sea from sunstroke. The poor fellow did not rise again, but the frigate and her boats remained near the spot for several hours after the occurrence without avail. The first thing Captain Peel did afterwards when he came on board was to shake hands with me, and apologise for his apparent discourtesy for leaving me in the cabin so abruptly. I was overwhelmed with amazement at his kind thoughtfulness at such a moment. I asked the captain how he knew that a man was overboard. He replied, smiling, that his ear was quite accustomed to the sound, and then he narrated to me several incidents of his experience whilst on the West Indies and Pacific stations.-Sunday at Home.

APOSTOLICAL SUCCESSION.- An old Puritan doctor, Sibbes, wrote a book called "The Bruised Reed," and that book having fallen into the hands of Richard Baxter, brought him under the influence of spiritual religion. Baxter wrote a book entitled "A Call to the Unconverted," and long after he had ceased to write, that book met the eyes of Philip Doddridge, and was the means of bringing him to a broader knowledge and richer faith and deeper experience in the things of God. Again, Doddridge, wrote a book called "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul," and at a critical period of his history it fell into the hands of William Wilberforce, and awakened him to seriousness, thought, and prayer. William Wilberforce wrote a book called "Practical Christianity," and in the sunny Isle of Wight it reached the heart of Leigh Richmond; and Leigh Richmond wrote the simple annals of a Methodist girl, and published them under the title of "The Dairyman's Daughter;" and into how many languages, he should like to know, had that book been translated, and in how many had it been made by God a powerful instrument in spreading the truth? There was another great result of the circulation of "Practical Christianity," besides that which he had mentioned. That book went to a secluded parish in Scotland, and found there a man who was preaching a gospel which he did not know, and it led him to preach it in a very different manner, till all Scotland rang with the eloquence of Thomas Chalmers. them look at that succession of names Richard Sibbes, Richard

Let

THE FIRESIDE.

Baxter, Philip Doddridge, William Wilberforce, Leigh Richmond, Thomas Chalmers. Was not that an apostolic succession.-Rev. Dr. Morley Punshon in Leisure Hour.

LIVING EPISTLES, NOT DEAD ONES.-The world, if ever it is to be reformed by men, and through men, can only be so by the personal intercourse of living men. Not ministers going their rounds like policemen, with black clothes and white neckties; nor elders taking statistics, nor deacons giving alms, or ladies tracts; all good, but we want Christians, whether they be smiths, or shoemakers, or tailors, or grocers, or coach drivers, or advocates, to remember their responsibilities, their own immense influence for good.-Norman Macleod.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.-Everybody has asked the question, "Why are the Egyptian obelisks called needles?" It is stated in explanation that meselleh is the Arabic word for needle, as well as for obelisk, and that the Arabs have from time immemorial called the peculiar structures "Pharaoh's needles," meaning Pharaoh's obelisks.

The Fireside.

COD-LIVER OIL.-Cod-liver oil cures consumption by promoting a restorative process in the system. Its efficacy is too well proven to admit of any question in the matter.

HEALTH. In a large majority of cases of sickness, the disorder is brought on by the excited imagination of the victim. Intense fear of disease is often sufficient to produce it. Therefore avoid brooding over such ideas, and keep the mind easy.

THE LAUNDRY.-Borax is much better to use than soda for fine articles in washing. French laundresses use it altogether. It saves soap, and does not harm the finest lace goods. It is used in proportion of a handful to ten or twelve gallons of water well mixed. NOSE BLEEDING.-To stop bleeding at the nose, exercise the jaws as if in the act of mastication. In the case of a child, give it something to chew, a piece of paper for instance. The motion of the jaw will soon stop the flow of blood. It is a sure remedy, simple as it seems.

TO CLEAN FEATHERS.-Cover the feathers with a paste made of pipe clay

and water, rubbing them one way only. When quite dry, shake off all the powder, and curl with a knife. Grebe feathers may be washed with white soap in soft water.

TO BOIL RICE.-In India rice is

cooked in the following way:-Take half a pound of rice, wash it well in two waters, cold, and put the rice into a two quart saucepan without a cover, fill it three-quarters full of cold water and boil it slowly on a moderate fire, stirring occasionally until the grains become done enough, which will be them between the finger and thumb. known by tasting as well as feeling which will take about twenty minutes. If soft to the heart they are ready, Now put in one tablespoonful of salt, stir up and take off immediately, and throw the whole into a drainer for ten minutes, and allow the water to drain thoroughly off, and the rice to become free and dry.

It is said that the pain caused by the sting of a horse-fly may be instantly alleviated, and the swelling which often accompanies it speedily reduced, by simply rubbing the injured part with the juice of an onion.

NOTES AND QUERIES-FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

Notes and Queries.

T. C. B.-You have hardly understood the question. It implies that Peter had tried other teachers; but that, since he had been a disciple, a H. Y.-State your question more learner, of Christ, all other religious fully, and we will try to answer it.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.