Banquet to the Expedition. a^'i'^ 



liave constructed huts in the jungle, into pieces of about 2 

 feet in length, which are transported in ox-carts to the shore, 

 whence they are forwarded by boat to Madras. 



When the members of the Novara Expedition had returned, 

 greatly pleased, from their various excursions, the Madras Club 

 gave a grand banquet in honour of the captain and staff, to 

 which the elite of Madras society were invited. Immediately 

 on our arrival the managing committee of the club had the 

 courtesy to place the officers and scientific members of the Ex- 

 pedition upon the free list of the club during the ship's stay. 

 The Madras Club-house, though not so luxurious or magnifi- 

 cent as the Clubs of London, fairly surpasses them in extent 

 and commodiousness. It is, in fact, a small portion of the city 

 in itself, in which one finds assembled all that can conduce to a 

 comfortable, agreeable mode of existence ; parlours, with wide 

 arm-chairs and American rocking-chairs ; reading-rooms, in 

 which are all the best journals and an excellent assortment of the 

 best and newest literature ; dining apartments, in which one can 

 dine in either the English or French style; billiard-rooms, shower 

 and plunge-baths, and a large swimming-bath. Members from 

 the country, or strangers, can be accommodated with lodging 

 as well. 



At the splendid banquet in honour of the Expedition, at which 

 above 200 persons sat down, the chair was taken by the Chief 

 Justice Sir Christopher Rawlinson — next to the Governor, the 

 most influential person in the community. The extremely 



