242 The Rifle a?id Hound in Ceylon. 



the late rain, boiled, and strove with the opposite rocks, 

 lashing itself into foam, and roaring down countless 

 cataracts, which, though well worthy of the name, sank 

 into insignificance before the mighty fall which fed 

 them. High above our heads reared the rocky preci- 

 pice of a thousand feet in height, the grassy mountains 

 capped with forest, and I could distinguish the very 

 spot from which I had heard the shouts of men on the 

 day of Merriman's death. Had I only known what 

 was taking place below, I might perhaps have been in 

 time to save the dog. 



We found the blood and remains of the offal of the 

 buck, but we, -of course, saw no remains of the dog, as 

 the power of the torrent must soon have dashed him to 

 atoms against/ the rocks. 



Thus ended poor Merriman : a better hound could 

 not have lived, and h^s murderers should have been 

 hanged. Unfortunately, Ceylon laws are often admin- 

 istered by persons who have never received a legal edu- 

 cation, and these wretches escaped without further pun- 

 ishment than the thrashing they had received. Of this, 

 however they had a full dose, which was a sweet sauce 

 to their venison which they little anticipated. 



The few descriptions that I have given of elk-hunting 

 should introduce a stranger thoroughly to the sport. No 

 one, however, can enjoy it with as much interest as the 

 owner of the hounds ; he knows the character of every 

 dog in the pack every voice is familiar to his ear ; he 

 cheers them to the attack ; he caresses them for their 

 /courage ; they depend upon him for assistance in the 

 struggle, and they mutually succor each other. This 

 renders the dog a more cherished companion than he is 

 considered in England, where his qualities are not of so 



