FLEET OF BOATS. 159 



out the wind with mats, and maintaining an 

 enormous lire, for the weather was bitterly- 

 cold, and the situation of our house about the 

 most exposed in Suldiur. However, both my 

 chum and myself were prepared for discomfort ; 

 and plenty of discomfort we had during the 

 following nine months, as on His Highness' 

 repeated promises that we should want for no- 

 thing we had come very lightly provided with 

 the ordinary necessaries for European gentle- 

 men in India. On the day after our exodus to 

 the octagon bungalow, the 16th Native Infantry 

 arrived, and a very nice, smart-looking corps 

 they appeared, though somewhat dusty after a 

 march of a dozen miles along a road ancle-deep 

 in the finest sand. The regiment marched 

 straight down to the beach, or rather to the 

 ghats, where a fleet of boats lay in readiness 

 for their reception. These boats were mostly 

 of large size, very comfortably fitted up with 

 grass mats all round. On the following morn- 

 ing they would have been on their way down 

 the river, but during the night a tremendous 

 dust storm came on, and the commanding officer 

 ordered the corps to stand fast, as in such 

 weather it was dangerous to attempt the passage. 



