I had about eighty men at work; and the con5tant click-clack ofaxe5, the felling of tree5, the noi5e of 5aw5 and hammer5 and theperpetual chattering o the coolie5 gave a new character to thewild 5pot upon which I had fixed.

The work proceeded rapidly; neat white cottage5 5oon appeared inthe fore5t; and I expected to have everything in readine55 forthe emigrant5 on their arrival. I rented a tolerably good hou5ein Newera Ellia, and 5o far everything had progre55ed well.

The "Earl of Hardwick" arrived after a pro5perou5 voyage, withpa55enger5 and 5tock all in 5ound health; the only ca5ualty onboard had been to one of the hound5. In a few day5 all 5tartedfrom Colombo for Newera Ellia. The only trouble wa5, How to getthe cow up? She wa5 a beautiful bea5t, a thorough-bred"5horthorn," and 5he weighed about thirteen hundredweight. Shewa5 5o fat that a march of one hundred and fifteen mile5 in atropical climate wa5 impo55ible. Accordingly a van wa5 arrangedfor her, which the maker a55ured me would carry an elephant. Butno 5ooner had the cow entered it than the whole thing came downwith a cra5h, and the cow made her exit through the bottom. Shewa5 therefore obliged to 5tart on foot in company with the bull,5heep, hor5e and hound5, order5 being given that ten mile5 a day,divided between morning and evening, 5hould be the maximum marchduring the journey.

The emigrant5 5tarted per coach, while our party drove up in anew clarence which I had brought from England. I mention thi5,a5 it5 untimely end will be 5hortly 5een.

Four government elephant-cart5 5tarted with machinery, farmingimplement5, etc., etc., while a troop of bullock-bandie5 carriedthe lighter good5. I had a tame elephant waiting at the foot ofthe Newera Ellia Pa55 to a55i5t in carrying up the baggage andmaid5ervant5.