CiiAP. IV.] AX ELEPHANT CORKAL. 347 



the native attendants, horse-keepers, and foot-runners. 

 The ladies were borne in palankins, and the younger 

 individuals of the party carried in chairs raised on 

 poles, and covered with cool green awnings made of 

 the fresh leaves of the tahpat pahn. 



After traversing the cultivated lands, the path led 

 across open glades of park-hke verdure and beauty, and 

 at last entered the great forest under the shade of 

 ancient trees wreathed to their crowns with chmbinsj 

 plants and festooned by natural garlands of convolvulus 

 and orchids. Here silence reigned, disturbed only by the 

 murmuring hum of glittering insects, or the shrill clamour 

 of the plum-headed parroquet and the flute-like calls of 

 the golden oriole. 



We crossed the broad sandy beds of two rivers over- 

 arched by tall trees, the most conspicuous of which is 

 the Kombook^ from the calcined bark of which the 

 natives extract a species of hme to be used with their 

 betel. And from the branches hung suspended over 

 the water the gigantic pods of the huge puswel bean ^, 

 the sheath of which measures six feet long by five or six 

 inches broad. 



On ascending the steep bank of the second stream, 

 we found ourselves in front of the residences which had 

 been extemporised for our party in the hnmediate 

 vicinity of the corral. These cool and enjoyable struc- 

 tures were formed of branches and thatched with pahn 

 leaves and fragrant lemon grass ; and in adchtion to a 

 dining-room and suites of bedi'ooms fitted with tent 

 furniture, they included kitchens, stables, and store- 

 rooms, all run up by the nati\-es in the course of a few 

 days. 



In former times, the work connected with the elephant 

 hunts was performed by the " forced labour " of the 

 natives, as part of that feudal service which under the 

 name of Eaja-kariya was extorted from the Singlialese 



Pentaptera paniculata. » Entada inirscctha. 



