They were all stretched out on clean straw. Some of the
attendants were rubbing them; others were bringing food and drink to them.
Passing into a smaller court, they found it contained dogs and cats in the
same unfortunate and suffering condition.
"It would be a mercy to kill them, and thus put them out of misery," said
Dr. Hawkes to the native officer with him.
"Do you serve your sick and disabled in that way?" asked the official.
He could not answer this appeal for the want of time, and they passed into
a place for birds. Venerable crows, vultures, buzzards, and other bipeds,
most of them with their plumage gone, pass the remainder of their lives in
peace in this curious retreat. At the end of the enclosure a heron proudly
strutted about with a wooden leg, among lame hens and blind geese and
ducks. Rats, mice, sparrows, and jackals have an asylum in the Jain
hospital.
"I should like to have some of our people take a lesson from this
institution," said Mrs. Woolridge as they left the place.
The carriages then conveyed them to a Hindu temple.
CHAPTER XVIII
A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY
On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which
Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to
be seen, including some choice Arabians.
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