CiiAP. III.] ELEPHANT SHOOTING. 329 



manifested their wonted habit, and swung their lunbs or 

 swayed their bodies to and fro incessantly. So far 

 from its being a substitute for exercise, those in tlie 

 government emplopnent in Ceylon are observed to 

 practise then- acquired motion, whatever it may be, 

 with increased vigour when thoroughly fatigued after 

 excessive work. Even the favourite practice of fanning 

 themselves with a leafy branch seems less an enjoyment 

 in itself than a resource when hstless and at rest. The 

 term " fidgetty" seems to describe appropriately the tem- 

 perament of the elephant. 



They evince the strongest love of retirement and a 

 corresponding dishke to intrusion. The approach of 

 a stranger is perceived less by the eye, the quickness of 

 which is not remarkable (besides which its range is 

 obscured by the foliage,) than by sensitive smell and 

 singular acuteness of hearing ; and the whole herd is 

 put in instant but noiseless motion towards some deeper 

 and more secure retreat. The effectual manner in 

 which an animal of the prodigious size of the elephant 

 can conceal himself, and the motionless silence which 

 he preserves, is quite surprising : whilst beaters pass 

 and repass within a few yards of his hiding place, he will 

 maintain his ground till the hunter, creeping almost 

 close to his legs, sees his httle eye peering out through 

 the leaves, when, finding himself discovered, he breaks 

 away with a crash, leveUing the brushwood in his head- 

 long career. 



If surprised in open ground, where stealthy retreat is 

 impracticable, a herd will hesitate in indecision, and, 

 after a few meaningless movements, stand huddled toge- 

 ther in a group, whilst one or two, more adventm'ous 

 than the rest, advance a few steps to reconnoitre. Ele- 

 phants are generally observed to be bolder in open 

 ground than in cover, but, if bold at all, far more dan- 

 gerous in cover than in open ground. 



In searching for them, sportsmen often avail themselves 

 of the expertness of the native trackers ; and notwitli- 



