156 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



they were out of sight. My first impulse was then 

 to run, which I continued to do for about three 

 miles, when I reached the large plain, which I 

 guessed to be that of Yalle. I then fell down quite 

 exhausted, and lay on the ground for above half an 

 hour, when I rose and moved slowly across the large 

 open ground to the other side of it, where I knew 

 the rest-house to be situated. The latter part of the 

 way was through a path in the jungle for about 100 

 yards ; and I confess I was so alarmed, that I could 

 not face the risk of this, and therefore steered my 

 course down towards the sea-coast. At last my way 

 was happily stopped by the river which flows there, 

 and I laid myself down on my face, and satisfied 

 my thirst by drinking, as you may conceive, most 

 inordinately. Quite dark as it was, there was little 

 chance of my being able to find the solitary clay- 

 built rest-house, which I knew to be thereabouts. 

 So I stretched myself on the sand, and slept there 

 till the moon rose soon after midnight, when I 

 resumed my search successfully, and finished my 

 sleep on its earthen floor. In the morning at the 

 first dawn, I endeavoured to find the hut of the 

 letter-carriers, but to no purpose, though I actually 

 viewed one of them for a moment ; but he, instead 

 of obeying my loud summons to come to my assist- 

 ance, fled and concealed himself. This, I am ashamed 

 to say, is but too often the conduct of the natives 

 under similar circumstances, knowing full well before- 



