so as to ensure plenty of good feed and water for both horses,
without the possibility of the ropes becoming entangled in each
other or in anything else. Then came a time of great excitement and
laughing and talking, for all the "swags" had to be packed and
apportioned for the very long and steep ascent before us.

And now I must tell you exactly what we took up. A pair of large
double blankets to make the tent of,--that was one swag, and a very
unwieldy one it was, strapped knapsack fashion, with straps of
flax-leaves, on the back, and the bearer's coat and waistcoat
fastened on the top of the whole. The next load consisted of one
small single blanket for my sole use, inside of which was packed a
cold leg of lamb. I carried the luncheon basket, also strapped on
my shoulders, filled with two large bottles of cream, some tea and
sugar, and, I think, teaspoons. It looked a very insignificant load
by the side of the others, but I assure you I found it frightfully
heavy long before I had gone half-way up the hill. The rest
distributed among them a couple of large heavy axes, a small coil of
rope, some bread, a cake, tin plates and pannikins, knives and
forks, and a fine pigeon-pie. Concerning this pie there were two
abominable propositions; one was to leave it behind, and the other
was to eat it then and there: both of these suggestions were,
however, indignantly rejected. I must not forget to say we included
in the commissariat department two bottles of whisky, and a tiny
bottle of essence of lemon, for the manufacture of toddy. We never
see a real lemon, except two or three times a year when a ship
arrives from the Fiji islands, and then they are sixpence or a
shilling apiece. All these things were divided into two large heavy
"swags," and to poor F--- was assigned the heaviest and most
difficult load of all--the water. He must have suffered great