THE SEA OF TIBERIAS.-JOHN XXI. BY ANNIE CLARKE. Low, low in the darken'd sky the crescent moon is drooping, Deep, deep in our riven hearts we ponder all the story Of Him who sailed this sea with us, and changed its gloom to glory; And born of love-taught faith in Him, a solemn gladness fills us, And interwoven with the joy, a tender sadness thrills us. Slow, slow in march majestic the stately hours are treading, The while we work, and watch, and wait, our empty meshes spreading; The stars are dim, they fade away, The night recedes, and in its stead, The splendour falls on land and lake, And to our ears a voice is borne, And on the shining wave-washed strand Why comes He here at break of morn? He speaks, and mighty is His word! Lo, here is all we need, and more; We know Him for our risen Lord. And on the shore a feast is spread ; His loving care is still the same, Who met the people when they came, Behold Him King below, above! His words are kind, His smile is sweet; He stoops our lowest need to meet, VICTORIA, B. C. INDIA: ITS TEMPLES, ITS PALACES, AND ITS PEOPLE. TRICHINOPOLI is, after Madras, the largest city in the Presidency It is a place of historic interest. It figures in the traditions of the South Indian dynasties for five centuries B.C., and was an important centre, and sometimes capital, during the whole of the dynasties of the Pandyan kings. Towards the close of the 16th century, it fell under the dominion of the Nayakan kings of Madura. The greater portion of the fort, and most of the city itself, was built during the reign of the first king, Viswanatha. Choka Nayakan about 100 years afterwards removed his seat of government from Madura to Trichinopoli, erecting the building now known as the Nawab's palace. It was besieged by the French in 1751, who were drawn off from its walls by the brilliant capture of Arcot by Clive. Every popular history of India gives an account of the famous siege of Trichinopoli.. The great rock of Trichinopoli is a mass of gneiss, rising abruptly out of the plain, like a huge boulder, to a height of 273 *Picturesque India. By W. S. CAINE, M.P. 8vo, pp. 606. London : George Routledge & Sons. Toronto William Briggs. feet above the street at its foot. This fortress-crowned rock is conspicuous all over the town, especially when viewed from the river, and forms one of the most striking and picturesque objects in India. The refraction of the sun's rays on this huge bare mass makes Trichinopoli likewise one of the hottest places in India. The old fortifications surrounding the rock, the scenes of many a fight, described by Orme, were all demolished thirty years ago, and the citadel and the small temple which crown the summit are approached by a pillared passage cut in the rock. Emerging from this covered way, a farther flight of steps is cut in the rock on the open. In 1849, a crowd of pilgrims were descending this passage after visiting the temple, when, owing to a panic, 250 persons were crushed to death. Seringham is famous for its magnificent temple, dedicated to Vishnu, whose vast walls embrace not only the sacred buildings, but the greater part of the town itself. The double walls enclose an area 960 yards long by 825 yards wide. It is undoubtedly the largest temple in India. The great gate, shown in one of our cuts, is one of the most imposing masses in Southern India, and, probably because it was never finished, is in severe and good |