Epeechless, and presently departed this life, to the great grief of all the family. The Transmigrations of At the time when Fairies and Genii poffeffed the powers which they have now lost, there lived in the country of the Brachmans a man named Indur, who was distinguished, not only for that gentleness of disposition and humanity towards all living creatures, which are so much cultivated among those people, but for an insatiable curiosity respecting the nature and way of life of all animals, In pursuit of knowledge of this kind be would frequently spend the night among lonely rocks, or in the midst of thick forests; and there, under shelter of a hanging cliff, or mounted upon a high tree; he would watch the motions and actions of all the animals that seek their prey in the night; and remaining in the same spot till the break of day, he would obferve this tribe of creatures retiring to their ́dens, and all others coming forth to enjoy the beams of the rising sun. On these occasions, if he saw any opportunity of exercising his benevolence towards animals in distress, he never failed to make use of it; and many times rescued the small birds from the pityless hawk, and the lamb or kid from the gripe of the wolf and lynx. One day, as he was sitting on a tree in the forest, a little frolicsome monkey; in taking a great leap from one bough to another, chanced to miss his bold; and fell from a great height to the ground. As he lay there unable to move, Indur espied a large venomous serpent advancing to make the poor defenceless creature his prey. He immediately de scended from his post, and taking the the en little monkey in his arms, ram with it, to the tree, and gently placed it apón a bough. In the mean. time raged serpent pursuing him, overtook him before he could mount the tree; and bit him in the leg. Presently limb began to swell, and the of the venam became visible over Indur's whole frame. He grew faint, sick, and pale; and sinking on the ground, was sensible that his last moments were fast approaching As thus he lay, he was surprised to hear a human voice from the tree; and looking up, he beheld, on the bough where he had placed the monkey, ca beautiful woman, who thus addreffed him: „Indur, Fam truly grieved, that thy Rindness to me should have been the cause of thy destruction. Know, that in the form of the poor monkey, it was the potent fairy Perezinda, te whom thou gavest succour. Obliged to pass a certain number of days every year under the shape of an animal, I had chosen this form; and though not mor tal, I should have suffered extreme ago mies from the bite of the serpent, hadst thou not so humanely assisted me. It is not in my power to prevent the fatal ef fect of the poison: but I am able to thee any wish thou shalt form re the future ftate of existence to which thou art now hastening Speak, then, before it be too late, and let me show my gratitude.“ „Great Perezinda!" replied Indur;,ince you defign so bounteously to return my service, this is the request that 1 make: In all my transmigrations may I retain a rational soul, with the memory of the adventu res I have gone through; and when death sets me free from one body, may I inftantly animate another in the prime of its powers and faculties, without passing through the helpless state of infancy," It is granted: answered the Fairy; and immediately breaking a small branch from the tree, and breath ing on it, fhe threw it down to Indur, and bid him hold it fast in his hand. He did fe, and prefently expired. -- foon Inftantly he found himself in green valley by the fide of a clear stream, grazing amtát a herd of Antelopes. He admired his elegant shape, sleek Spotted skin, and polished spiral horns, and drunk with delight of the cool, rivulet, cropt the juicy herb, and sported with his companions. Soon, an alarm was given of the approach of an ene. my; and they all set off with the swiftness of the wind to the neighbouring immense plains; where they were out of the reach of injury. In dur was highly delighted with the ease and rapidity of his motions; and snuffing the keen air in the defart, bounded away, fcarcely deigning to touch the ground with his feet. This way of life went on very pleasantly for some time, till at length the herd was morning alarmed with nóifes of trumpets, drums, and loud shouts, on every side. They started, and ran first to the right, then to the left, but were continually driven back by the one |