404 Voyage of the Novara. 



assist, they, in their ill-timed zeal, came near oversetting the 

 waggon into the ditch on the opposite side. Next, we ex- 

 changed this stubborn brute for one that was blind. For a 

 brief space we hoped the latter might probably be the more 

 easily driven in consequence of his not seeing what was going 

 on around him ; but these anticipations were speedily dis- 

 pelled, and in a rather unpleasant manner. The short dis- 

 tance that now separated us from our destination seemed as 

 though it would never have an end ; and, in a word, it was 

 already verging on midnight ere we reached Galle, where we 

 had been expected to dinner five hours before, by our hos- 

 pitable friend, the Consul for Hamburg. Some of the in- 

 vited guests had already left this agreeable house, while 

 others were still seated at the whist-table, as, wearied and 

 exhausted, we entered the drawing-room. The circum- 

 stances that had so seriously delayed our arrival were ex- 

 plained by way of apology, and proved the subject of some 

 goodnatured quizzing on our misfortunes by the guests 

 present ; and in such agreeable society, and over a sumptuous 

 supper, we speedily forgot the trifling annoyances of our 

 latest experiences. 



In the course of a desultory agreeable conversation about 

 the natural beauties of the island, many were the plans of 

 more distant excursions which we projected this evening — 

 which, however, upon more mature consideration, all proved 

 impracticable, owing to the scanty time at our disposal. 

 Thus wje found ourselves, much against our wishes, com- 



