chap. xii. A JUNGLE TRTP. 283 



unfortunately only fourteen days' leave from his regi- 

 ment, and he and I had accordingly hurried on a day 

 in advance of our party, they having still some pre- 

 parations to complete in Kandy, and not being quite 

 so well horsed for a quick journey. 



Nothing could be more comfortable than our 

 arrangements. Our followers and establishment con- 

 sisted of four personal servants, an excellent cook, 

 four horse-keepers, fifty coolies, and Wallace ; in all, 

 sixty people. The coolies were all picked men, who 

 gave not the slightest trouble during the whole trip. 

 We had two tents, one of which contained four beds 

 and a general dressing-table ; the other, which was 

 my umbrella-shaped tent, was arranged as the dining- 

 room, with table and chairs. With complete dinner 

 and breakfast services for four persons, and abundance 

 of table linen, we had everything that could be wished 

 for. Although I can rough it if necessary, I do not 

 pretend to prefer discomfort from choice. A little 

 method and a trifling extra cost will make the jungle 

 trip anything but uncomfortable. There was nothing 

 wanting in our supplies. We had sherry, madeira, 

 brandy and curagoa, biscuits, tea, sugar, coffee, hams, 

 tongues, sauces, pickles, mustard, sardines en /mile, tins 

 of soups and preserved meats and vegetables, currant 

 jelly for venison, maccaroni, vermicelli, flour, and a 

 variety of other things that add to the comfort of the 

 jungle, including last, but not least, a double supply 



