88 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



Hospital, which marks the entrance to the long canal 

 which unites the river with the Lake of Negombo. 

 The canal is monotonous and uninteresting in the 

 extreme, but it enabled us to have our breakfast in 

 peace before we emerged into the lake. This is, 

 properly speaking, a lagoon, as it communicates with 

 the sea. On this occasion it was decidedly rough for 

 inland water, and there was a strong breeze blowing 

 right in our teeth. The steamer puffed and snorted, 

 but made little progress. I had rolled up my shirt- 

 sleeves for coolness, regardless of the spray which 

 blew over us at intervals. I was, however, to have 

 cause to remember it. At last we reached our desti- 

 nation some three hours after time. We amused our- 

 selves in the evening by watching a cricket match 

 between native teams, and " doing" Negombo, a dull 

 little place, but prettily situated. When we went to 

 get ready for dinner at the rest-house,* I found my 

 hands, arms, and face were becoming intolerably pain- 

 ful. The sun and wind aided by the salt spray had 

 made them almost raw. Will was also suffering, but not 

 so badly. Fortunately the Government Agent's wife 

 kindly sent us some glycerine and rosewater, which 

 allayed the pain. But for this I hardly think I could 

 have continued our journey, and as it was I could 

 hardly bear my coat on for some days. The Ceylon 

 sun is quite powerful enough without salt water ; I 



* A rest-house is the Ceylon equivalent of the Indian dawk 

 bungalow, only it is better furnished. Both are substitutes for hotels 

 in their respective countries, if that can be considered an hotel which 

 provides neither food, drink, nor bedding. 



