NEWS OF ELEPHANT. 23 



each other in startling rapidity, and the gray streaks 

 of dawn were visible in the east before the company 

 separated, 



I had hardly turned in more than a couple of 

 hours when Chineah awoke me with the intelligence 

 that a Curumber had come in the cantonment to 

 say that a large herd of elephants had been seen 

 the day previously near a nullah that flowed into 

 the Moyaar river, about three miles from the foot 

 of the Hills. Wedderburn, who had also got hold 

 of the news, came to my bungalow, and it was 

 arranged that he should go down the Seegur, or 

 northern ghaut, and work towards the eastward, 

 whilst I went down that of Coonoor and made for 

 Gujelhulli, where we were to meet on the third 

 day, it being a capital hunting-quarters, close to a 

 narrow belt of jungle between the Hills and 

 Moyaar river, through which elephants had to pass 

 whether en route for the Ballyrungum Hills or the 

 southern forests. 



Having completed my preparations I sent on the 

 guns, &c., Chineah, Googooloo, the Gooroo, and a 

 horsekeeper, also two coolies laden with prog ; and 



