erstood some of the
arts of life, for they formed a huge tank or pond for the purpose of
irrigation; so large, indeed, that there still exists, in one corner
of it, a sheet of water extensive enough to deserve the name of a
lake."

"Let us go and see it," exclaimed the admiral. "Can we ride? Order the
horses; who minds the heat of the sun?"--for, like almost all
new-comers, Sir Samuel cared nothing for exposure, and laughed at the
precautions of more experienced residents.

The collector of Trincomalee soon satisfied the Admiral that an
expedition to Candelay Lake, as the ancient tank of the natives was
called, could not be undertaken quite so speedily. Boats and horses
indeed were all ready, and tents could easily be procured; but it was
likewise necessary to prepare provisions, to pack up clothes, and to
send forward a set of native pioneers to clear the way through
brushwood, otherwise impenetrable. The Admiral was in such ecstacies
at the prospect of an adventure which was to cost some trouble, that
he allowed nobody rest till everything had been put in train. Early in
the morning of the next day but one, we accordingly set out in several
of the flag-ship's boats, accompanied by a mosquito fleet of native
canoes to pilot and assist us; Lady Hood, whom no difficulties could
daunt, accompanied Sir Samuel; the captain of his ship, and his
flag-lieutenant, with the collector as pilot, and one or two others,
made up the party; and our excursion, though nearly destitute of
adventures vulgarly so called, proved one of the most interesting
possible.

The early part of our course lay over the smooth and beautiful
harbour of Trincomalee, after which we passed through a series of
coves, forming what is called the Lake of Tamblegam, a connecting bay
or arm of the sea, though far out of sight of the main ocean. We soon
lost ourselves amid innumerable little islands clad thickly in the
richest mantles of tropical foliage down to the water's edge, and at
many places even into the water; so that, as not a stone or the least
bit of ground could be seen, these fairy islets appeared actually to
float on the surface. We had to row our boats through a dense aquatic
forest of mangroves for nearly a mile, along a narrow lane cut through
the wood expressly for us the day before by the natives. These
fantastical trees, which grow actually in the water, often recall to
the imagination those villages one sees in countries liable to
frequ