98 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



the neck, he devoured it; and, placing his fore-foot 

 upon the body, he tore the arms and legs from their 

 sockets with his trunk, and devoured every portion of 

 her. 



" The women rushed to the village with the news of 

 this unnatural carnage. 



" Doolana and the neighborhood has always been 

 famous for its elephant-hunters, and the husband of 

 this unfortunate girl was one of the most aptive in their 

 pursuit. The animals are caught in this country and 

 sold to the Arabs, for the use of the Indian govern- 

 ment. 



" The news of this bloody deed flew from village to 

 village ; war to the knife was declared against the per- 

 petrator, and preparations were accordingly made. 



" Since the murder of this girl he had taken up his 

 abode in a small isolated jungle adjoining, surrounded 

 by a small open,, plain of fine soft grass, upon a level, 

 sandy soil. 



" A few days after this act, a hundred men assembled 

 at Doolana, determined upon his destruction. They 

 were all picked elephant-hunters Moormen ; active 

 and sinewy fellows, accustomed to danger from their 

 childhood. Some were armed with axes, sharpened 

 to the keenest edge, some with long spears, and others 

 with regular elephant ropes, formed of the thongs of 

 raw deer's hide, beautifully twisted. Each division of 

 men had a separate duty allotted. 



" They marched toward the small jungle in which 

 the rogue was known to be ; but he anticipated their 

 wishes, and before they were within a hundred paces 

 of his lair, he charged furiously out. The conflict 

 began in good earnest. The spearmen were in ad- 



