A BEAR ADVENTURE IN CEYLON. 157 



hand that they are only required to act as guide, or 

 to carry luggage, for either of which services they are 

 frequently but inadequately rewarded. I again, there- 

 fore, started on my way to Pallitopanie, over twelve 

 miles of deep sand, where I arrived with difficulty 

 at three o'clock, almost dead from the scorching rays 

 of the sun, fatigue, and hunger ; having ate nothing 

 from the morning of my embarkation till I reached 

 this place, a space of time of about fifty-three hours. 

 Luckily it had rained, and I occasionally found water 

 to drink in the holes made by the feet of the wild 

 elephants and buffaloes. The kind care of the only 

 European at the post, an honest corporal of the 19th 

 Eegiment, soon brought me round, by preparing a hot 

 bath for me, and a good currie, not to mention a 

 share of his brandy-bottle, to compensate for the 

 one which the bear had cost me. Next day he 

 escorted me with his musket on his shoulder to 

 Hambantotte, where my labour ended, as I got 

 housed with my friend the Collector, and found 

 my servants and baggage arrived. I must not 

 finish without remarking on the brandy-bottle. It 

 was actually forced upon me in spite of my refusal, 

 by a gentleman who saw me embark on board of the 

 dhoney, and it was nearly broken from want of a 

 cork-screw to open it, in order to relieve the wife of 

 a soldier who was on board going to join her hus- 

 band, and who, being sea-sick, took a longing for 

 this panacea. It was by the merest accident that 



