; the mist boiled up from the
valleys and swept along the surface of the plains, obscuring the view
of everything, except the pattering rain which descended without
ceasing day or night. Every sound was hushed, save that of the
elements and the distant murmuring roar of countless waterfalls; not a
bird chirped, the dank white lichens hung from the branches of the
trees, and the wretchedness of the place was beyond description.

I found it almost impossible to persuade the natives to work in such
weather; and it being absolutely necessary that cottages should be
built with the greatest expedition, I was obliged to offer an
exorbitant rate of wages. In about fortnight, however, the wind and
rain showed flags of truce in the shape of white clouds set in a blue
sky. The gale ceased, and the skylarks warbled high in air, giving
life and encouragement to the whole scene. It was like a beautiful
cool mid-summer in England.

I had about eighty men at work; and the constant click-clack of axes,
the felling of trees, the noise of saws and hammers and the perpetual
chattering o the coolies gave a new character to the wild spot upon
which I had fixed.

The work proceeded rapidly; neat white cottages soon appeared in the
forest; and I expected to have everything in readiness for the
emigrants on their arrival. I rented a tolerably good house in Newera
Ellia, and so far everything had progressed well.

The "Earl of Hardwick" arrived after a prosperous voyage, with
passengers and stock all in sound health; the only casualty on board
had been to one of the hounds. In a few days all started from Colombo
for Newera Ellia. The only trouble was, How to get the cow up? She was
a beautiful beast, a thorough-bred "shorthorn," and she weighed about
thirteen hundredweight. She was so fat that a march of one hundred and
fifteen miles in a tropical climate was impossible. Accordingly a van
was arranged for her, which the maker assured me would carry an
elephant. But no sooner had the cow entered it than the whole thing
came down with a crash, and the cow made her exit through the bottom.
She was therefore obliged to start on foot in company with the bull,
sheep, horse and hounds, orders being given that ten miles a day,
divided between morning and evening, should be the maximum march during
the journey.

The emigrants started per coach, while our party drove up in a new
clarence which I had brought from England. I mention this, as i