3 
then three marches bring you into the 5000 foot region of trees, upland grass, 
meadows, violets and wild strawberries. No wonder a sporting Captain of an 
infantry regiment gave R150 for an exchange to Aden for six months, the under¬ 
standing being that he was to spend the greater part of them in Somali land. 
CE¥liOx\. 
Before dilating on the exploits of the R.A., by sea and land, I must point out 
the very great disadvantages under which the Royal Regiment exists in this 
island; the Officers R.A. number 16 and yet there is actually no R.A. Mess. 
In the writer’s humble opinion the R.A. should be the premier corps in every 
way in this place, but they are not, and solely and entirely because there is no 
Mess ; it has been represented to the authorities here, over and over again in the 
last two years, the very great need there is of a Mess. They quite allow it, but 
nothing is done. No doubt it is a slur on the Regiment, and it does the Regi¬ 
ment a very great deal of harm. War ships of foreign Powers are continually 
calling in, friends, brother officers R.A. and of all branches of the service are 
continually going through or sent to Ceylon for change, and here we are absolutely 
unable to show the smallest hospitality, or to have a corner even where people 
can leave cards. We all feel very strongly about it, but what is the good? we are 
in Ceylon! 
It is a little difficult to find anything very interesting to record from this 
“ penal settlement,” as this beautiful island was designated the other day. There 
is one event we were a little proud of lately; the four officers of the 16 Company, 
Southern Division, R.A., won the four-oar race at the Annual Regatta. The 
Regatta takes place just before the Colombo race week, and is one of the events 
of the year, everyone goes, the men in their best coat and tile, and the ladies in 
their smartest frocks. Three crews entered for the race, viz.: the Colombo, 
Royal Warwick Regt., and R.A., the Colombo boat was favourite, they had 
been at work for nearly two months and rowed in good style, the other two crews 
had only been together for eight or ten days and w 7 ere a bit rough, but each boat 
had plenty of supporters who believed in muscle and condition. On the 10th 
August the first heats were rowed off. The course is on the big lake in Colombo 
and is 1 mile 600 yards long, a pretty course, but not good for seeing the 
finish, the spectators being too far from the winning-post. The R.A. having 
drawn a bye, the Colombo and Royal Warwick Regt’s. boats rowed the first heat, 
the Colombo boat jumped off with the lead and won easily by four or five lengths. 
On the 12th the Regatta took place, there was a good deal of excitement about 
the fours, the Colombo boat being a strong favourite. Immediately after the 
start the Colombo boat went to the front and, at the end of a mile, were leading 
by some five lengths, but the pace was beginning to tell on the civilians, while 
the R.A. were only beginning to settle down, rowing a stroke of 39 they over¬ 
hauled the Colombo boat at every stroke, and putting on a spurt at the end, beat 
the civilians on the post by half a length ; it was a hard fight, and the R.A. rowed 
a plucky race ; a quarter of a mile from home odds of 20 to 1, no takers, were 
offered on the civilians. The winners received a small ovation on their return; 
it was not a bad performance considering the small amount of practice they had, 
and that there was no one to choose from, it being a half-company boat and the 
four officers all rowing. This is the crew : 
st. lbs. 
Major Hickman 
(bow) 
. 9 
3 
Lieut. Parquhar 
(2) . 
... 11 
0 
„ Hewetson 
(3) . 
. 11 
0 
„ Kirkpatrick 
(stroke) ... 
. 10 
12 
