ts
untimely end will be shortly seen.

Four government elephant-carts started with machinery, farming
implements, etc., etc., while a troop of bullock-bandies carried the
lighter goods. I had a tame elephant waiting at the foot of the Newera
Ellia Pass to assist in carrying up the baggage and maidservants.

There had been a vast amount of trouble in making all the necessary
arrangements, but the start was completed, and at length we were all
fairly off. In an enterprise of this kind many disappointments were
necessarily to be expected, and I had prepared myself with the patience
of Job for anything that might happen. It was well that I had done so,
for it was soon put to the test.

Having reached Rambodde, at the foot of the Newera Ellia Pass, in
safety, I found that the carriage was so heavy that the horses were
totally unable to ascend the pass. I therefore left it at the
rest-house while we rode up the fifteen miles to Newera Ellia,
intending to send for the empty vehicle in a few days.

The whole party of emigrants and ourselves reached Newera Ellia in
safety. On the following day I sent down the groom with a pair of
horses to bring up the carriage; at the same time I sent down the
elephant to bring some luggage from Rambodde.

Now this groom, "Henry Perkes," was one of the emigrants, and he was
not exactly the steadiest of the party; I therefore cautioned him to be
very careful in driving up the pass, especially in crossing the narrow
bridges and turning the corners. He started on his mission.

The next day a dirty-looking letter was put in my hand by a native,
which, being addressed to me, ran something in this style:

"Honord Zur

"I'm sorry to hinform you that the carrige and osses has met with a
haccidint and is tumbled down a preccippice and its a mussy as I didn't
go too. The preccippice isn't very deep bein not above heighy feet or
therabouts--the hosses is got up but is very bad--the carrige lies on
its back and we can't stir it nohow. Mr. ---- is very kind, and has
lent above a hunderd niggers, but they aint no more use than cats at
liftin. Plese Zur come and see whats to be done.

"Your Humbel Servt,
"H. PERKES."

This was pleasant, certainly--a new carriage and a pair of fine
Australian horses smashed before they reached Newera Ellia!

This was, however, the commencement of a chapter of accidents. I went
down the pass, and there, sure enough, I had a fine bird's-eye view of
the ca