lower forms we learn, if not the very first, at all events very early rudiments of reading, and as we get higher in the school the drudgery of learning generally, or very often, passes through various stages, as the worm into the butterfly, into a pleasant occupation. Latin and Greek lose the ugly forms with which they were clothed in our youth; the scales drop off, and beauties never before seen develope daily. So we have a word to say to all, from the highest to the lowest forms, in reference to the question, "How shall I read?" To begin with the lowest. We recommend those who are now passing through the early stages, to whose minds Latin and Greek are an unsightly phantom, or, in more common parlance, "an awful bore," these we advise to persevere. In a very few years, if diligent, they will emerge from the "Slough of Despond," through which all have passed before, and look back on their past labours with incredulous contempt. Let them remember that the course they are taking is a means to an end, and the end is for their own practical use; and remembering this, we repeat, let them persevere. But to those who have surmounted these difficulties, a word is also necessary. Even then all is not easy sailing. There are shoals and quicksands to avoid, and these shoals present themselves in the shape of amusement and recreation. The difficulty they have to guard against is sacrificing duty to pleasure. We know from experience that few things are more enchanting than social intercourse, and athletic exercise; that they have a tendency, if unchecked, to absorb the mind and stunt literary energy. If used so as to be recreations they are not only pleasant but necessary; if abused, so as to become occupations, they are not only wrong but useless. Besides this difficulty there is another, at which we have hinted before, viz.: the idea that by reading much a man becomes "well-read." The opposite to this cannot be too strongly impressed, and the main object of those who wish to be well-informed should be to master one thing at a time. When the old man in the fable wished his sons to break the bundle of sticks, he shewed them that it was only by breaking one at a time that they would succeed, and in the same way those who approach the store-house of knowledge must be content to cut down one rafter at a time before they can expect to level the superstructure. One word in parting. Probably many of those who read this article will find it dry, stale, and "bosh." The writer hopes that the number of these will be confined to those whose tastes are not of a literary kind, and that he may escape unscathed by the criticism of the "well-read" readers. Though conscious of the feeble way in which he has treated the subject, he is not unconscious of the importance of the subject itself, and urges all who care at all for such pursuits as ennoble the taste, elevate the mind, and enlarge the understanding, to seek them in holding converse with the mighty minds whose thoughts have ruled the intellectual powers of the world. And let all realize the words of our poet, who thus exquisitely assigns to knowledge and wisdom their proper places Who loves not knowledge? who shall rail A higher hand must make her mild For she is earthly of the mind,. But wisdom heavenly of the soul; I would the great world grew like thee, (In Memoriam, cxiii.) ΤΗ Sporting in Ceplen HE following is an account of a short Shooting Excursion along the Eastern coast of Ceylon, by an "Old Cheltonian," (who in his day was Captain of the Eleven,) accompanied by two Officers of the Royal Engineers. As the doings of each day were noted down in the evenings, they must necessarily be somewhat crude and short; and having been kept so long, it is obvious that they were not intended for publication; but a friend, feeling sure they must prove interesting to many of his old associates at the College, and, indeed, to all Cheltonians, obtained permission to publish them. "Ever since our first arrival at Point de Galle, Land myself had been planning a shooting trip up the eastern coast; B― came to Galle soon after, and agreed to be one of the party. On the 12th of November, 1853, we sent in our application to Major L, the Commandant, who forwarded it to the General. On the 17th our leave came down from Columbo, granted for the time we applied for, viz., from the 7th of December, 1853, to the 7th of January, 1854. The Commandant had kindly given us leave to start on the 4th, so as to reach our shooting ground by the 7th. After getting all our things ready, in the shape of guns, rifles, eatables and drinkables, books, clothes, &c., &c., we sent them off on the 26th of November, in two bullock bandies, in charge of our appuos, with orders to go all the way to Palootoopam, the first place that we meant to commence warfare at-distant from Galle about 130 miles; the last 70 miles being over an awful road, which, as the rains had been heavy of late, was in wretched order. In the meanwhile, I was looking forward with great delight to the day of starting. I may as well mention that L- is an old hand at the sport, and B- had been out once before. On the 3rd of December, the officer commanding the detachment of the Ceylon Rifles came to us, and said he did not think we should be able to start on the day following, as one of his men had been stealing, and that he had sent up an application to Columbo for a District Court Martial on him, and as there were not a sufficient number of officers in the Galle garrison if we went away, of course we were obliged to remain until the General's decision came down. In the meanwhile, we had withdrawn all our horses which we had posted as relays on the road as far as San Galle, to which place we had hired a palanquin carriage. Thus, beside the inconvenience, the delay was an extra expense to us, for we had to pay for the horses without using them, and also would be obliged to post them again. On the 6th an answer came down to say there was to be no Court Martial; so we again got the horses on for two stages: fortunately those on the further stages had not been withdrawn, so we met them. We started from Galle on Tuesday evening, the 6th, at 8.30, for a 50 miles drive to San Galle. Previous to our departure we had dinner, and drank "success to our trip" in a bumper of champagne. The Commandant then came down to our "shop" we all sat down and were "cropped" by him,-in fact I have not at present half-an-inch of hair on the top of my head. Another bumper, and away we went down the street shouting like boys just let out of school. At Matuca, 28 miles from Galle, we changed for the third time; while doing so, we heard music, so Land B went towards the house whence the sound proceeded, to see what it was all about. Shortly after, they returned with a Portugese gentleman (a Burgher), who very politely invited us to his house, saying his daughter had been married that day, and they were then keeping up the fun; so in we went, not to the dancing room, but sat down with the father and bridegroom to a capital supper of turkey, ham, and beer, and very good champagne: the bride we did not see, as they are very particular about shewing their ladies to strange Europeans; but my two companions, who had been squinting in at the window before the old gentleman caught them, said she was a "fresh chop colored lady;"—we drank her health, eat some cake, blessed her for getting married on that day, and about 2 o'clock started again. We frequently stuck fast in the roads, and at 9 o'clock arrived at San Galle. Near the end of our journey I got a shot with my little Pea Rifle at a pelican sitting on a tree in a paddy field, about 150 yards off, but missed it. At San Galle we met our horses which had been sent on three days previous: they were looking well and fresh,-poor fellows they have a long way to go before they reach a comfortable stable again. After something to eat, we mounted our nags for a 14 miles ride to a place called Hattagalle. I made my housekeeper carry the little rifle in case I should come across any peafowl or anything for the "pot;" however, we saw none arrived at our destination about 2 o'clock. After feeding our horses, and having some curry and rice ourselves, we started at 5 o'clock for another 14 miles ride to a place called Hambantotti. After going about 6 miles, we reached a river called the Waltaya River, which we crossed, horses and all, in a ferry boat. Frequently we came across tame buffalos sleeping in small pools, called "tanks," by the road side. These are called tame because they belong to the villages; though, in reality, they are more dangerous than the wild buffalo, as they often charge you without the least provocation; as for instance, when you are snipe shooting, whereas the wild buffalo very rarely do so even if you wound them; and, if not attacked first, invariably get out of your way. The latter part of the ride from the river was nearly all through sand, by the side of immense salt water lakes, called "Leways." By 10 o'clock we arrived at Hambantotti, after having been in the saddle 9 hours, and having only done 28 miles; but we had to take our housekeeper with us; and, therefore, walked all the way. On our arrival we went up to the doctor's house, whom I had known while at Columbo. He and the Commandant (a lieutenant in the rifles), were expecting us. After something to eat, we "turned in;" and, being thoroughly tired with our slow ride, we all slept soundly till 9 next morning. Before breakfast I had time to look about me. In front of the house lay the town, in a hollow by the sea side, entirely composed of native huts, and built in the same style as all Ceylon villages: the Martello Tower overlooking the whole of the surrounding country. Near the tower, also, is the Commandant's house, and the government agent's house; also, the hospital stands near. At the hospital (where we were stopping), an invalid company of rifles is stationed. After breakfast we thought about going on to Palootoopam (our hunting ground), and were undecided whether to go by sea in a fishing boat, or ride. We went down to the town to see about a boat, and at last decided to send our ponies on, and to start in a boat ourselves later, or in the evening; but, somehow or other, the boatmen and we could not agree; so we thought it better to keep our ponies until we actually started in a boat. These boatmen are queer fellows to deal with; and very likely as soon as they had seen our ponies off, they would have come to us "salaaming," saying they were much afraid the wind would not suit, and with various other excuses. Before dinner we practised with the little rifle at bottles, at a long distance. The Commandant's son, a lad of twelve, shot very well, and broke a bottle at 130 yards. This same boy, afterwards, went out with his father, and put a bullet in an elephant's head after his father had killed him. We dined at the Commandant's; his lady was well used to our jungle equipments. I must acknowledge I felt rather modest when first being introduced to her. I had on a very bad jacket; a pair of "inexpressibles," not altogether without holes; gaiters; and to complete all, an unshaven beard, and no hair on the top of my head. Anyhow, I enjoyed my dinner very much; and, directly after, off we went to the hospital for our things, and then down to the beach. Having wished our hospitable friend "good bye," who in return wished us success in our trip," away we sailed, hoping to get to our camp, 24 miles off, by 9 o'clock that night, as these boats sail very fast, and with a good wind, ought to do the distance in 4 hours. 66 We had started about four o'clock. After being out about three hours the boatmen showed evident signs of trying to get their own way. The wind being right against us we could not sail. We told them to row according to their agreement, which we had made them sign before starting. They told us the best thing we could do was to return to Hambantotti, where there was a big "Dhomy," or |