THE OUT-STATION; OK, 



bed without the least ceremony in the world; a pro- 

 ceeding considerably subversive to the philosophy of 

 the " lord of creation," and resulting in an immediate 

 onslaught on the aggressor, who, independently of 

 this, is no doubt the most incommoded party in the 

 first instance. 



Should the natives of the country, however, (for 

 even in these mountains there are human beings 

 stowed away in some seemingly inexplorable and 

 invisible recess ; living without the assistance of the 

 " circulating medium," (and consequently little trou- 

 bled with "currency questions,") Heaven only knows 

 on what and how !) gain intelligence of the forth- 

 coming visit of an Englishman, the greatest com- 

 pliment they can show is to denude their own limbs 

 of their white sheets to hang round the walls of the 

 room, so that you only see the struggles of the fallen 

 viper at the top, where, hanging over you like the 

 sword of Damocles, he keeps you in a continual state 

 of perspiration, if not alarm. 



To settle down to sleep for the first time in life, 

 surrounded only by savages and wild beasts of every 

 description, a hundred miles or more distant from 

 even the jungle-dwelling of a countryman, has more 

 excitement in it, than one who has never experienced 

 the situation would imagine ; and it is extraordinary 

 how the value of every thing bearing the remotest 

 vestige of civilisation, even down to the flavour of a 

 cigar, is enhanced thereby ; consequently, about the 



