ARRIVAL THE FIRST NIGHT. 31 



Luckily there were hardly any mosquitoes, 

 and I spread my ulster on a cane sofa I had 

 managed to get brought up, put my revolver 

 within reach of my hand, and although very 

 hungry, was able to sleep soundly all night. 

 In the early morning a cheery voice outside 

 my window wished me a "happy Christmas," 

 and I then found I had one kind neighbour 

 at least within five minutes' walk. Soon his 

 cook appeared with hot coffee and toast, and 

 surely never was coffee so welcome or so de- 

 licious, for I had just been wondering where 

 I should get any food or drink. Later on 

 breakfast and dinner arrived from the same 

 kind source, but it certainly was the strangest 

 Christmas I ever passed. 



Owing to the festive season, I suppose, I was 

 unable to get my heavy luggage, consisting 

 of furniture, kitchen utensils, tinned provisions, 

 &c., through the Custom-House for a week, by 

 which time I was heartily tired of my hard 

 narrow bed, and really do not know what I 

 should have done without my kind neighbour, 



