The little 07ie. 149 



corral, the smallest was sent down to my house at 

 Colombo, where he became a general favourite with the 

 whole family. He attached himself especially to the 

 coachman, who had a little shed erected for him near his 

 own quarters at the stables. But his favourite resort 

 was the kitchen, where he received a daily allowance 

 of milk and plantains, and picked up other delicacies 

 besides. He was innocent and playful in the extreme, 

 and when walking in the grounds he would trot up to 

 me, twine his little trunk round my arm, and coax me 

 to take him to the fruit-trees. In the evening the grass 

 cutters now and then indulged him by permitting him to 

 carry home a load of fodder for the horses, on which 

 occasions he assumed an air of gravity that was highly 

 amusing, showing that he was deeply impressed with the 

 importance and responsibility of the service entrusted to 

 him. Being sometimes permitted to enter the dining- 

 room, and helped to fruit at dessert, he at last learned his 

 way to the sideboard ; and on more than one occasion, 

 having stolen in during the absence of the servants, he 

 made a clear sweep of the wine-glasses and china in his 

 endeavours to reach a basket of oranges. For these and 

 similar pranks Ave were at last forced to put him away. 

 He was sent to the Government stud, at Colombo, 

 where he v^^as affectionately received and adopted by 

 Siribeddi, and he now takes his turn of public duty in 

 the department of the Commissioner of Roads. 



