180 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



was nearly crossed, and the opposite jungle lay within 

 two hundred yards of them. To gain this the buck re- 

 doubled his exertions : the grayhounds knew as well as 

 he did that it was his chance of escape, and with equal 

 efforts they pressed upon him. Not fifty paces now 

 separated the buck from the jungle, and with prodi- 

 gious bounds he sped along ; he neared it, he won it ; 

 the yielding branches crashed before him, but the dogs 

 were at his haunches as the jungle closed over them 

 and concealed the chase. 



I was soon up ; and upon entering the jungle I could 

 neither hear nor see anything of them, but, by follow- 

 ing up the track, I found them about fifty yards from 

 the entrance to the jungle. The buck was standing on 

 the sandy bed of a dry stream, endeavoring in vain to 

 free himself, while the grayhounds pinned his nose to 

 the ground, each hanging upon his ears. The knife 

 finished him immediately. There never was a more 

 exciting course; it had been nobly run by both the 

 dogs and well contested by the buck, who was a 

 splendid fellow and in fine condition. 



On my way to the tent, I wounded a doe at full 

 speed, which Lena followed singly and pulled down, 

 thus securing our coolies a good- supply of venison. 

 The flesh of the spotted deer is more like mutton than 

 English venison, and is excellent eating ; it would be 

 still better if the climate would allow of its being kept 

 for a few days. 



There is no sport in Ceylon, in my opinion, that is 

 equal to deer-coursing, but the great difficulty attend- 

 ing it is the lack of good grayhounds. The spotted 

 buck (or axis) is an animal of immense power and 

 courage ; and although most grayhounds would course 



