160 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



From here there are two of the finest views in the 

 island^ within five minutes' ride of each other. From 

 one point I looked clear away to Kingston, Port Royal, 

 and the sea, and from the other across a deep valley 

 nearly to the other side of the island ; both were very 

 lovely. After feasting my eyes on these beauties for 

 some time, I returned to Newcastle on my way back. 

 The sun was excessively hot, and I looked forward with 

 the most keen desire to getting a bottle of beer at the 

 barracks. Arrived at the canteen, I found the door on 

 the jar ; I went in, and was informed that the canteen 

 was shut, which it certainly was not ; I eyed the man 

 with feelings of the most unmitigated disgust — indeed, 

 I am afraid I used some strong expressions, but then 

 the thermometer was at 110°, and I had ridden twenty-five 

 miles ! I went out, and was getting on my horse, when 

 my gentleman followed me out, and after examining me 

 a bit, asked if I was looking for someone. " Yes ; I 



want to see y^ mentioning one of the officers, '^ but 



I find he is gone down to Kingston.^' " Oh, indeed, sir ; 

 perhaps, sir, what did you want, sir V^ It was an awful 

 act of self-denial, but I was so disgusted that I rode off 

 minus beer. My steed nearly gave out going back — at 

 least, I thought so, but on arriving to within half a mile 

 of Kingston he suddenly uttered an extraordinary sound, 

 something between a grunt and a railway whistle, and 

 bolted straight to the stables without any more ado. 

 The cunning beast ! he had been "playing coon'' all the 

 time. 



Two days after, I started ofi" for St. Anne's Bay, going 

 by way of Spanish Town, the Bog Walk, Linstead, and 

 the Moneague. I expostulated with Mr. White about 

 the quality of the previous steed he furnished me with. 



