verybody
is here from all parts of the island. People who have been long
resident in the tropics seem to find it very cold; for the men wore
great-coats and ulsters, and many of the ladies velvet and sables, or
sealskin jackets. On the way back from the sports we drove round to
see something of the settlement; it cannot be called a town, for
though there are a good many people and houses, no two are within half
a mile of one another. There are two packs of hounds kept here, one to
hunt the big elk, the other a pack of harriers. The land-leeches,
which abound in this neighbourhood, are a great plague to horses, men,
and hounds. It rained last night, and I was specially cautioned not to
go on the grass or to pick flowers, as these horrid creatures fix on
one's ankle or arm without the slightest warning. I have only seen
one, I am thankful to say, and have escaped a bite; but everybody
seems to dread and dislike them.

After dinner we went to a very pleasant ball, given by the Jinkhana
Club, at the barracks. The room was prettily decorated with the racing
jackets and caps of the riders in the races, and with scarlet wreaths
of geranium and hibiscus mingled with lycopodium ferns and
selaginella. We did not remain very late at the ball, as we had to
make an early start next morning; but the drive home in the moonlight
was almost as pleasant as any part of the entertainment.

_Wednesday, April 4th_.--We were called at four o'clock, and
breakfasted at five, everybody appearing either in dressing-gowns or
in habits to see us set off. They all tried to persuade us to stay for
the meet of the hounds at the house to-day. Another ball to-night, and
more races, and another ball to-morrow; but we are homeward bound, and
must hurry on. It was a lovely morning, and we waited with great
patience at the post-house for at least an hour and a half, and
watched the hounds come out, meet, find, and hunt a hare up and down,
and across the valley, with merry ringing notes that made us long to
be on horseback.

We saw all the racehorses returning from their morning gallop, and
were enlightened by the syces as to their names and respective owners.
There were several people, a great deal of luggage, and, though last
not least, Her Majesty's mails, all waiting, like us, for the coach.
About a quarter to seven a message arrived, to the effect that the
horses would _not_ come up the hill, they had been jibbing for more
than an hour, so would we