160 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



still stream, bounded by grassy undulations ; now rush- 

 ing wildly through a hundred channels formed by 

 obtruding rocks, then in a still, deep pool, gathering 

 itself together for a mad leap over a yawning precipice, 

 and roaring at a hundred feet beneath, it settles in the 

 lower plain in a pool of unknown depth, and once 

 more it murmurs through another valley. 



In the large pools formed by the sudden turns in the 

 river the elk generally takes his last determined stand, 

 and he sometimes keeps dogs and men at bay for a 

 couple of hours. These pools are generally about sixty 

 yards across, very deep in some parts, with a large, 

 shallow sandbank in the centre, formed by the eddy of 

 the river. 



We built a hunting bivouac in a snug corner of the 

 plains, which gloried in the name of " Elk Lodge." 

 This famous hermitage was a substantial building, and 

 afforded excellent accommodation : a verandah in the 

 front, twenty-eight feet by eight ; a dining-room twenty 

 feet by twelve, with a fire-place eight feet wide ; and 

 two. bed-rooms of twenty feet by eight. Deer-hides were 

 pegged down to form a carpet upon the floors, and the 

 walls were neatly covered with talipot leaves. The 

 outhouses consisted of the kennel, stables for three 

 horses, kitchen and sheds for twenty coolies and serv- 

 ants. 



The fire-place was a rough piece of art, upon which 

 we prided ourselves extremely. A party of eight per- 

 sons could have sat before it with comfort. Many a 

 roaring fire has blazed up that rude chimney ; and din- 

 ner being over, the little round table before the hearth 

 has steamed forth a fragrant attraction when the nightly 

 bowl of mulled port has taken its accustomed stand. I 



