264 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



by one of the party, as we were in hopes of coming 

 upon deer. Unfortunately, we were traveling down 

 wind ; we accordingly did not sec a single head of 

 game, as they of course winded us long before we came 

 in view. 



We had ridden about eight miles, when we suddenly 

 came upon the fresh tracks of elephants, and, imme- 

 diately dismounting, we began to track up. The ground 

 being very dry, and the grass short and parched, the 

 tracks were very indistinct, and it was tedious work. 

 We had followed for about half a mile through alternate 

 glades and belts of jungle, when we suddenly spied a 

 Veddah hiding behind a tree about sixty yards from us. 

 The moment that he saw he was discovered he set off 

 at full speed, but two of our coolies, who acted as gun- 

 bearers, started after him. These fellows were splendid 

 runners, and, after a fine course, they ran him down ; 

 but when caught, instead of expressing any fear, he 

 seemed to think it a good joke. He was a rather short, 

 but stout-built fellow, and he was immediately recog- 

 nized by our little guide as one of the best hunters 

 among the Northern Veddahs. He soon understood 

 our object ; and, putting down his bows and arrows 

 and a little pipkin of sour curd (his sole provision on 

 his hunting trip), he started at once upon the track. 



Without any exception he was the best tracker I have 

 ever seen : although the ground was as hard as a stone, 

 and the footprints constantly invisible, he went like a 

 hound upon a scent at a pace that kept us in an occa- 

 sional jog-trot. After half an hour's tracking, and 

 doubling backward and forward in thick jungle, we 

 'Came up with three elephants. V. B. killed one, and I 

 killed another at the same moment. V. B. also fired at 



