290 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



which took his wing off close to his body. Half an 

 hour afterward he formed part of our breakfast. 



During our breakfast a heavy shower of rain came 

 down and continued for about two hours. 



In the afternoon we sallied out, determined to shoot 

 at any large game that we might meet. We had lately 

 confined our sport to elephants, as we did not wish to 

 disturb the country by shooting at other game, but hav- 

 ing fired in this neighborhood in the morning, we were 

 not very particular. 



We walked through a lovely country for about five 

 miles, seeing nothing whatever in the shape of game, 

 not even a track, as all the old marks were washed out 

 by the recent shower. At length we heard the barking 

 of deer in the distance, and, upon going in that di- 

 rection, we saw a fine herd of about thirty. They were 

 standing in a beautiful meadow of about a hundred 

 acres in extent, perfectly level, and interspersed with 

 trees, giving it the appearance of an immense orchard 

 rather thinly planted. One side of this plain was bounded 

 by a rocky mountain, which rose precipitously from its 

 base, the whole of which was covered with fine open 

 forest. 



We were just stalking toward the deer when we came 

 upon a herd of wild buffaloes in a small hollow within 

 a close shot. 



Palliser wanted a pair of horns, and he was just pre- 

 paring for a shot when we suddenly heard the trumpet 

 of an elephant in the forest at the foot of the rocky 

 mountain, close to us. 



Elephants, buffaloes and deer were all within a hun- 

 dred yards of each other : we almost expected to see 

 Noah's ark on the top of the hill. 



