A BEAK ADVENTTJKE IN CEYLON. 151 



serious to a man with a good appetite, who had 

 tasted nothing from the day before at breakfast, in 

 a part of the country quite uninhabited excepting 

 by a couple of men posted here and there, for the 

 purpose of carrying the tappaul. But I felt strong 

 and vigorous ; and the Kandyan campaign had taught 

 me to fast. I thought, too, if I once got ashore, I 

 should be able to find one or other of the tappaul 

 huts I have mentioned, and come in for a share of 

 the currie and rice of its inmates. At a station, 

 moreover, by name Pallitopanie, about half-way 

 between where I was to be put ashore and Haniban- 

 totte, there was an English corporal, with a few 

 native soldiers, in charge of a depot of salt. But to 

 proceed. I was landed in a small canoe from the 

 larger vessel. I took with me a black man, who 

 was proceeding to Trincomalee with some trifling 

 articles of merchandise, who said he could show me 

 the hut in the neighbourhood, where I could get one 

 of the runners before mentioned to be my guide, as 

 well as to carry a small leathern case with a change 

 of linen and dressing utensils. We had no sooner 

 stepped on the beach, than the men in the canoe 

 treacherously pushed off for their vessel, and my 

 black friend threw himself at my feet, imploring 

 me to let him go also, and that I should proceed far 

 enough not to be seen, otherwise the men in the 

 canoe would not be prevailed on to return for him ; 

 and, separated from his property on board the dhoney, 



