28 \ The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon, 



rounded by low, rocky hills. We immediately sent the 

 men off upon the tracks, while we waited upon a high 

 plateau of rock for their return. They came back in 

 about a quarter of an hour, having found the elephants 

 within half a mile. 



They were in high lemon grass, and upon arrival at 

 the spot we could distinguish nothing, as the grass rose 

 some feet above our heads. It was like shooting in the 

 dark, and we ascended some rising ground to improve 

 our position. Upon arrival on this spot we looked over 

 an undulating sea of this grass, interspersed with rocky 

 hills and small patches of forest. Across a valley we 

 now distinguished the herd much scattered, going off in 

 all directions. They had winded us, and left us but a 

 poor chance -of catching them in such ground. Of 

 course we lost no time in giving chase. The sun was 

 intensely hot not a breath of air was stirring and the 

 heat in the close, parched grass was overpowering. 

 With the length of start that the elephants had got, we 

 were obliged to follow at our best pace, which, over 

 such tangled ground, was very fatiguing ; fortunately, 

 however, the elephants had not yet 'seen us, and they 

 had accordingly halted now and then, instead of going 

 straight off. 



There were only four elephants together, and, by a 

 great chance, we came up with them just as they were 

 entering a jungle. I got a shot at the last elephant and 

 killed him, but the others put on more steam, and all 

 separated, fairly beating us, as we were almost used up 

 by the heat. 



This was very bad luck, and we returned in despair 

 of finding the scattered herd. We had proceeded some 

 distance through the high grass, having just descended 



